Literacy rate in Vanuatu
Vanuatu: Literacy rate was 88.0% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
88.0%
Change on year
down 2.0%
World rank
79th
of 128 countries
All-time high
92.5%
in 2019
All-time low
32.5%
in 1950
Years of data
6
1950–2023
Literacy rate in Vanuatu, 1950–2023
Source: UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Vanuatu recorded 88.0% for literacy rate in 2023.
The figure is down 2.0% on the previous year and down 4.9% over five years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate in Vanuatu peaked at 92.5% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 32.5%, in 1950.
Vanuatu ranks 79th of 128 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Literacy rate in Vanuatu, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 32.5% | — |
| 1979 | 52.9% | +62.7% |
| 1999 | 74.0% | +40.0% |
| 2019 | 92.5% | +25.0% |
| 2020 | 89.8% | -2.9% |
| 2023 | 88.0% | -2.0% |
Vanuatu compared with similar countries
- Vanuatu's 88.0% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 78.2%, 1.1× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Vanuatu's 88.0% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 96.0%, 92% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 32.5% | 32.5% | 32.5% | 1 |
| 1970s | 52.9% | 52.9% | 52.9% | 1 |
| 1990s | 74.0% | 74.0% | 74.0% | 1 |
| 2010s | 92.5% | 92.5% | 92.5% | 1 |
| 2020s | 88.9% | 88.0% | 89.8% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Vanuatu
More education data for Vanuatu
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1,186 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 1,492 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 8,030 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 7,738 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 61,360 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 56,048 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.48 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.171 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate in Vanuatu?
- Literacy rate in Vanuatu was 88.0% in 2023, according to UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rate recorded in Vanuatu?
- The highest recorded value was 92.5% in 2019.
- What is the lowest literacy rate recorded in Vanuatu?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.5% in 1950.
- How does Vanuatu rank for literacy rate?
- Vanuatu ranks 79th out of 128 countries with data for 2023.
- Where does this Vanuatu 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
CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of adults who can read and write a simple statement about their everyday life.