Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Nepal
Nepal: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes was 21.1% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Nepal, 1981–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Nepal is 21.1%, measured in 2019.
That represents a change of down 20.9% on the previous year and up 15.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Nepal peaked at 26.7% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 10.5%, in 1981.
Nepal ranks 78th of 85 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Nepal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 10.5% | — |
| 1991 | 14.3% | +35.6% |
| 2001 | 16.0% | +11.8% |
| 2008 | 18.3% | +14.6% |
| 2011 | 20.8% | +13.6% |
| 2016 | 25.9% | +24.7% |
| 2017 | 26.7% | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 21.1% | -20.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 10.5% | 10.5% | 10.5% | 1 |
| 1990s | 14.3% | 14.3% | 14.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 17.1% | 16.0% | 18.3% | 2 |
| 2010s | 23.6% | 20.8% | 26.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More education data for Nepal
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 609,324 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.67 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.57 million (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.31 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1204 units per person (2025)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 3.57 million (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.31 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Nepal?
- Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Nepal was 21.1% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 26.7% in 2017.
- What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.5% in 1981.
- How does Nepal rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes?
- Nepal ranks 78th out of 85 countries with data for 2019.
- Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nepal data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release