Cross country literacy rates in Nepal
Nepal: Cross country literacy rates was 68.71 in 2019. ▲ Rising
Latest (2019)
68.71
Change on year
up 2.8%
World rank
107th
of 128 countries
All-time high
68.71
in 2019
All-time low
3
in 1950
Years of data
9
1950–2019
Cross country literacy rates in Nepal, 1950–2019
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for cross country literacy rates in Nepal is 68.71, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.
The figure is up 2.8% on the previous year and up 23.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cross country literacy rates in Nepal peaked at 68.71 in 2019 and was at its lowest, 3, in 1950.
That places Nepal 107th out of 128 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Cross country literacy rates in Nepal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3 | — |
| 1981 | 20.57 | +585.7% |
| 1991 | 32.98 | +60.3% |
| 2001 | 48.61 | +47.4% |
| 2008 | 55.56 | +14.3% |
| 2011 | 59.63 | +7.3% |
| 2016 | 65.5 | +9.8% |
| 2017 | 66.87 | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 68.71 | +2.8% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 68.71 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 78.16, 88% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 68.71 is below the median for South Asia, which is 78.58, 87% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 1980s | 20.57 | 20.57 | 20.57 | 1 |
| 1990s | 32.98 | 32.98 | 32.98 | 1 |
| 2000s | 52.09 | 48.61 | 55.56 | 2 |
| 2010s | 65.18 | 59.63 | 68.71 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More education data for Nepal
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 98.55 (2025)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 99.24 (2025)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 124,257 (2025)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 263,796 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 752,326 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 609,324 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.67 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.57 million (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.31 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cross country literacy rates in Nepal?
- Cross country literacy rates in Nepal was 68.71 in 2019, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest cross country literacy rates recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 68.71 in 2019.
- What is the lowest cross country literacy rates recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 3 in 1950.
- How does Nepal rank for cross country literacy rates?
- Nepal ranks 107th out of 128 countries with data for 2019.
- Is cross country literacy rates rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nepal data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Cross country literacy rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 9 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).