Literacy rate, adult male in Laos
Laos: Literacy rate, adult male was 85.1% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, adult male in Laos, 1995–2023
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of males ages 15 and above.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rate, adult male in Laos is 85.1%, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 5.3% on the previous year and down 5.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, adult male in Laos peaked at 90.0% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 73.5%, in 1995.
That places Laos 60th out of 88 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Literacy rate, adult male in Laos, year by year
| Year | % of males ages 15 and above | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 73.5% | — |
| 2000 | 81.4% | +10.7% |
| 2001 | 77.0% | -5.3% |
| 2005 | 82.5% | +7.1% |
| 2015 | 90.0% | +9.1% |
| 2017 | 83.4% | -7.3% |
| 2022 | 89.9% | +7.7% |
| 2023 | 85.1% | -5.3% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 85.1% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 83.7%, 1.0× the median. (30 countries reporting)
- Laos's 85.1% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 97.5%, 87% of the median. (15 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 73.5% | 73.5% | 73.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 80.3% | 77.0% | 82.5% | 3 |
| 2010s | 86.7% | 83.4% | 90.0% | 2 |
| 2020s | 87.5% | 85.1% | 89.9% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Laos
More education data for Laos
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 35,584 (2022)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 16,396 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 116,303 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 115,863 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 532,092 (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 739,554 (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.0716 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0939 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate, adult male in Laos?
- Literacy rate, adult male in Laos was 85.1% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest literacy rate, adult male recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 90.0% in 2015.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, adult male recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 73.5% in 1995.
- How does Laos rank for literacy rate, adult male?
- Laos ranks 60th out of 88 countries with data for 2023.
- Is literacy rate, adult male rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Laos data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Literacy rate, adult male (% of males ages 15 and above). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.