Literacy rate in Romania
Romania: Literacy rate was 99.2% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
99.2%
World rank
11th
of 128 countries
All-time high
99.2%
in 2021
All-time low
77.5%
in 1950
Years of data
5
1950–2021
Literacy rate in Romania, 1950–2021
Source: UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2021, literacy rate in Romania stood at 99.2%. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate in Romania peaked at 99.2% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 77.5%, in 1950.
Romania ranks 11th of 128 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Literacy rate in Romania, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 77.5% | — |
| 1992 | 96.7% | +24.8% |
| 2002 | 97.3% | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 98.6% | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 99.2% | +0.6% |
Romania compared with similar countries
- Romania's 99.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 97.8%, 1.0× the median. (33 countries reporting)
- Romania's 99.2% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 98.5%, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 77.5% | 77.5% | 77.5% | 1 |
| 1990s | 96.7% | 96.7% | 96.7% | 1 |
| 2000s | 97.3% | 97.3% | 97.3% | 1 |
| 2010s | 98.6% | 98.6% | 98.6% | 1 |
| 2020s | 99.2% | 99.2% | 99.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Romania
More education data for Romania
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 125,405 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 14,415 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 267,679 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 254,147 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.43 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 873,154 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.7448 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0458 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate in Romania?
- Literacy rate in Romania was 99.2% in 2021, according to UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rate recorded in Romania?
- The highest recorded value was 99.2% in 2021.
- What is the lowest literacy rate recorded in Romania?
- The lowest recorded value was 77.5% in 1950.
- How does Romania rank for literacy rate?
- Romania ranks 11th out of 128 countries with data for 2021.
- Is literacy rate rising or falling in Romania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Romania 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.