Literacy rate, adult total in Bahrain
Bahrain: Literacy rate, adult total was 97.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, adult total in Bahrain, 1981–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of people ages 15 and above.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rate, adult total in Bahrain is 97.8%, measured in 2024.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, adult total in Bahrain peaked at 97.9% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 69.8%, in 1981.
That places Bahrain 18th out of 89 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
Literacy rate, adult total in Bahrain, year by year
| Year | % of people ages 15 and above | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 69.8% | — |
| 1991 | 84.0% | +20.4% |
| 2001 | 86.5% | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 97.9% | +13.1% |
| 2023 | 97.8% | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 97.8% | -0.0% |
Bahrain compared with similar countries
- Bahrain's 97.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 97.7%, 1.0× the median. (12 countries reporting)
- Bahrain's 97.8% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 94.4%, 1.0× the median. (15 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 69.8% | 69.8% | 69.8% | 1 |
| 1990s | 84.0% | 84.0% | 84.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 86.5% | 86.5% | 86.5% | 1 |
| 2020s | 97.8% | 97.8% | 97.9% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Bahrain
More education data for Bahrain
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 8,964 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 23 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 15,546 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 14,992 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 109,221 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 122,305 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 4.09 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.077 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate, adult total in Bahrain?
- Literacy rate, adult total in Bahrain was 97.8% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest literacy rate, adult total recorded in Bahrain?
- The highest recorded value was 97.9% in 2022.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, adult total recorded in Bahrain?
- The lowest recorded value was 69.8% in 1981.
- How does Bahrain rank for literacy rate, adult total?
- Bahrain ranks 18th out of 89 countries with data for 2024.
- Where does this Bahrain data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Literacy rate, adult total (% of people 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.