Literacy rate in Myanmar
Myanmar: Literacy rate was 93.5% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate in Myanmar, 1901–2020
Source: UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, literacy rate in Myanmar stood at 93.5%.
That represents a change of up 5.0% on the previous year and up 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate in Myanmar peaked at 95.8% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 28.4%, in 1901.
Myanmar ranks 64th of 128 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.
Literacy rate in Myanmar, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1901 | 28.4% | — |
| 1911 | 29.4% | +3.5% |
| 1921 | 35.7% | +21.4% |
| 1931 | 40.2% | +12.6% |
| 1950 | 57.5% | +43.0% |
| 1983 | 78.6% | +36.6% |
| 2000 | 89.9% | +14.5% |
| 2014 | 90.4% | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 84.8% | -6.2% |
| 2018 | 95.8% | +13.0% |
| 2019 | 89.1% | -7.0% |
| 2020 | 93.5% | +5.0% |
Myanmar compared with similar countries
- Myanmar's 93.5% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 78.2%, 1.2× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Myanmar's 93.5% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 96.0%, 97% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 28.4% | 28.4% | 28.4% | 1 |
| 1910s | 29.4% | 29.4% | 29.4% | 1 |
| 1920s | 35.7% | 35.7% | 35.7% | 1 |
| 1930s | 40.2% | 40.2% | 40.2% | 1 |
| 1950s | 57.5% | 57.5% | 57.5% | 1 |
| 1980s | 78.6% | 78.6% | 78.6% | 1 |
| 2000s | 89.9% | 89.9% | 89.9% | 1 |
| 2010s | 90.0% | 84.8% | 95.8% | 4 |
| 2020s | 93.5% | 93.5% | 93.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Myanmar
More education data for Myanmar
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 153,660 (2018)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 25,434 (2018)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 76,947 (2018)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 77,156 (2018)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.19 million (2018)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 5.30 million (2018)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.64 % change on previous year (2018)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2018)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1014 units per person (2018)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate in Myanmar?
- Literacy rate in Myanmar was 93.5% in 2020, according to UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rate recorded in Myanmar?
- The highest recorded value was 95.8% in 2018.
- What is the lowest literacy rate recorded in Myanmar?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.4% in 1901.
- How does Myanmar rank for literacy rate?
- Myanmar ranks 64th out of 128 countries with data for 2020.
- Is literacy rate rising or falling in Myanmar?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Myanmar data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Literacy rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of adults who can read and write a simple statement about their everyday life.