Literacy rate in Uruguay
Uruguay: Literacy rate was 98.9% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate in Uruguay, 1950–2024
Source: UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rate in Uruguay is 98.9%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 0.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate in Uruguay peaked at 99.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 82.5%, in 1950.
Uruguay ranks 13th of 128 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Literacy rate in Uruguay, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 82.5% | — |
| 1975 | 93.9% | +13.8% |
| 1985 | 95.4% | +1.6% |
| 1996 | 96.8% | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 97.8% | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 97.9% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 98.2% | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 98.3% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 98.1% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 98.3% | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 98.4% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 98.4% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 98.4% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 98.5% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 98.6% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 98.6% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 98.7% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 98.8% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 99.0% | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 98.8% | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 98.8% | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 98.9% | +0.1% |
Uruguay compared with similar countries
- Uruguay's 98.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 97.8%, 1.0× the median. (33 countries reporting)
- Uruguay's 98.9% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 94.4%, 1.0× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 82.5% | 82.5% | 82.5% | 1 |
| 1970s | 93.9% | 93.9% | 93.9% | 1 |
| 1980s | 95.4% | 95.4% | 95.4% | 1 |
| 1990s | 96.8% | 96.8% | 96.8% | 1 |
| 2000s | 98.0% | 97.8% | 98.3% | 4 |
| 2010s | 98.5% | 98.1% | 98.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 98.9% | 98.8% | 99.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Uruguay
More education data for Uruguay
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 25,390 (2010)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 2,520 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 57,513 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 54,922 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 337,808 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 287,527 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.35 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0849 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate in Uruguay?
- Literacy rate in Uruguay was 98.9% in 2024, according to UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rate recorded in Uruguay?
- The highest recorded value was 99.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest literacy rate recorded in Uruguay?
- The lowest recorded value was 82.5% in 1950.
- How does Uruguay rank for literacy rate?
- Uruguay ranks 13th out of 128 countries with data for 2024.
- Is literacy rate rising or falling in Uruguay?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Uruguay 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.