Literacy rate in Suriname
Suriname: Literacy rate was 92.9% in 2012. ▲ Rising
Latest (2012)
92.9%
Change on year
down 1.9%
World rank
67th
of 128 countries
All-time high
94.7%
in 2010
All-time low
72.5%
in 1950
Years of data
5
1950–2012
Literacy rate in Suriname, 1950–2012
Source: UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2012, literacy rate in Suriname stood at 92.9%.
That represents a change of down 1.9% on the previous year and up 3.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate in Suriname peaked at 94.7% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 72.5%, in 1950.
Suriname ranks 67th of 128 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Literacy rate in Suriname, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 72.5% | — |
| 2004 | 89.6% | +23.6% |
| 2008 | 94.6% | +5.6% |
| 2010 | 94.7% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 92.9% | -1.9% |
Suriname compared with similar countries
- Suriname's 92.9% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 95.4%, 97% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Suriname's 92.9% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 94.4%, 98% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 72.5% | 72.5% | 72.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 92.1% | 89.6% | 94.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 93.8% | 92.9% | 94.7% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Suriname
More education data for Suriname
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 4,520 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 9,366 (2021)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 9,117 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 8,643 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 63,941 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 60,612 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 10.8 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0955 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate in Suriname?
- Literacy rate in Suriname was 92.9% in 2012, according to UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rate recorded in Suriname?
- The highest recorded value was 94.7% in 2010.
- What is the lowest literacy rate recorded in Suriname?
- The lowest recorded value was 72.5% in 1950.
- How does Suriname rank for literacy rate?
- Suriname ranks 67th out of 128 countries with data for 2012.
- Is literacy rate rising or falling in Suriname?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Suriname 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.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of adults who can read and write a simple statement about their everyday life.