Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Pakistan
Pakistan: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes was 29.6% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Pakistan, 1981–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
Pakistan recorded 29.6% for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in 2021.
That represents a change of down 4.0% on the previous year and up 23.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Pakistan peaked at 30.8% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 12.7%, in 1981.
Pakistan ranks 72nd of 85 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 16 years of available data.
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 12.7% | — |
| 1998 | 17.7% | +39.7% |
| 2005 | 20.5% | +16.1% |
| 2006 | 24.4% | +18.7% |
| 2007 | 22.9% | -6.0% |
| 2008 | 25.6% | +11.7% |
| 2009 | 24.9% | -2.9% |
| 2010 | 24.9% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 24.0% | -3.5% |
| 2012 | 25.5% | +6.3% |
| 2013 | 24.5% | -3.9% |
| 2014 | 25.3% | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 27.1% | +7.0% |
| 2018 | 26.2% | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 30.8% | +17.6% |
| 2021 | 29.6% | -4.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 12.7% | 12.7% | 12.7% | 1 |
| 1990s | 17.7% | 17.7% | 17.7% | 1 |
| 2000s | 23.6% | 20.5% | 25.6% | 5 |
| 2010s | 26.0% | 24.0% | 30.8% | 8 |
| 2020s | 29.6% | 29.6% | 29.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More education data for Pakistan
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.04 million (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 440,233 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 5.05 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4.90 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 19.70 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 25.38 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 3.1 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.101 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Pakistan?
- Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Pakistan was 29.6% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 30.8% in 2019.
- What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.7% in 1981.
- How does Pakistan rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes?
- Pakistan ranks 72nd out of 85 countries with data for 2021.
- Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Pakistan 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