Literacy rate in Thailand
Thailand: Literacy rate was 91.1% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate in Thailand, 1950–2022
Source: UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2022, literacy rate in Thailand stood at 91.1%.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and down 2.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate in Thailand peaked at 96.4% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 52.5%, in 1950.
That places Thailand 72nd out of 128 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Literacy rate in Thailand, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 52.5% | — |
| 1980 | 88.0% | +67.6% |
| 2000 | 92.7% | +5.3% |
| 2005 | 93.5% | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 96.4% | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 93.7% | -2.8% |
| 2015 | 92.9% | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 92.0% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 93.8% | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 91.3% | -2.7% |
| 2022 | 91.1% | -0.2% |
Thailand compared with similar countries
- Thailand's 91.1% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 95.4%, 95% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Thailand's 91.1% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 96.0%, 95% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 52.5% | 52.5% | 52.5% | 1 |
| 1980s | 88.0% | 88.0% | 88.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 93.1% | 92.7% | 93.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 93.3% | 91.3% | 96.4% | 6 |
| 2020s | 91.1% | 91.1% | 91.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Thailand
- 69 Puerto Rico 92.4% compare
- 70 Lebanon 92.0% compare
- 71 South Africa 91.2% compare
- 73 Eswatini 90.8% compare
- 74 Lesotho 90.5% compare
- 75 El Salvador 89.8% compare
More education data for Thailand
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 243,991 (2025)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 13,596 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 758,147 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 716,498 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.26 million (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.45 million (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.23 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0621 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate in Thailand?
- Literacy rate in Thailand was 91.1% in 2022, according to UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rate recorded in Thailand?
- The highest recorded value was 96.4% in 2010.
- What is the lowest literacy rate recorded in Thailand?
- The lowest recorded value was 52.5% in 1950.
- How does Thailand rank for literacy rate?
- Thailand ranks 72nd out of 128 countries with data for 2022.
- Is literacy rate rising or falling in Thailand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Thailand 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.