Literacy rate, adult male in Spain
Spain: Literacy rate, adult male was 99.8% in 2021. ▬ Flat
Literacy rate, adult male in Spain, 1981–2021
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 Spain is 99.8%, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 18 years on record.
The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 1.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, adult male in Spain peaked at 99.8% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 95.9%, in 1981.
Spain ranks 4th of 88 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Literacy rate, adult male in Spain, year by year
| Year | % of males ages 15 and above | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 95.9% | — |
| 1991 | 98.0% | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 98.1% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 98.6% | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 98.6% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 98.6% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 98.4% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 98.5% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 98.5% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 98.5% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 98.6% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 98.8% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 98.7% | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 98.8% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 98.8% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 98.9% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 99.0% | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 99.8% | +0.8% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 99.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 98.6%, 1.0× the median. (12 countries reporting)
- Spain's 99.8% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 99.8%, 1.0× the median. (10 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 95.9% | 95.9% | 95.9% | 1 |
| 1990s | 98.0% | 98.0% | 98.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 98.5% | 98.1% | 98.6% | 6 |
| 2010s | 98.7% | 98.5% | 98.9% | 8 |
| 2020s | 99.4% | 99.0% | 99.8% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Spain
- 1 Tajikistan 100.0% compare
- 1 Uzbekistan 100.0% compare
- 3 Azerbaijan 99.8% compare
- 5 Armenia 99.8% compare
- 6 Georgia 99.8% compare
- 7 Serbia 99.6% compare
More education data for Spain
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 344,203 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 37,817 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 570,954 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 538,977 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.71 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.83 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.08 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.058 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate, adult male in Spain?
- Literacy rate, adult male in Spain was 99.8% in 2021, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest literacy rate, adult male recorded in Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 99.8% in 2021.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, adult male recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 95.9% in 1981.
- How does Spain rank for literacy rate, adult male?
- Spain ranks 4th out of 88 countries with data for 2021.
- Is literacy rate, adult male rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Spain 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.