Literacy rate, adult total in Lao People's Democratic Republic
Lao People's Democratic Republic: Literacy rate, adult total was 75.6% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, adult total in Lao People's Democratic Republic, 1995–2023
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 Lao People's Democratic Republic is 75.6%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 10.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, adult total in Lao People's Democratic Republic peaked at 84.7% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 60.2%, in 1995.
That places Lao People's Democratic Republic 65th out of 89 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Literacy rate, adult total in Lao People's Democratic Republic, year by year
| Year | % of people ages 15 and above | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 60.2% | — |
| 2000 | 69.6% | +15.5% |
| 2001 | 68.7% | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 72.7% | +5.8% |
| 2015 | 84.7% | +16.5% |
| 2017 | 73.7% | -12.9% |
| 2023 | 75.6% | +2.6% |
Lao People's Democratic Republic compared with similar countries
- Lao People's Democratic Republic's 75.6% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 78.2%, 97% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
- Lao People's Democratic Republic's 75.6% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 96.1%, 79% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 60.2% | 60.2% | 60.2% | 1 |
| 2000s | 70.3% | 68.7% | 72.7% | 3 |
| 2010s | 79.2% | 73.7% | 84.7% | 2 |
| 2020s | 75.6% | 75.6% | 75.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Lao People's Democratic Republic
More education data for Lao People's Democratic Republic
- 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 total in Lao People's Democratic Republic?
- Literacy rate, adult total in Lao People's Democratic Republic was 75.6% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest literacy rate, adult total recorded in Lao People's Democratic Republic?
- The highest recorded value was 84.7% in 2015.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, adult total recorded in Lao People's Democratic Republic?
- The lowest recorded value was 60.2% in 1995.
- How does Lao People's Democratic Republic rank for literacy rate, adult total?
- Lao People's Democratic Republic ranks 65th out of 89 countries with data for 2023.
- Is literacy rate, adult total rising or falling in Lao People's Democratic Republic?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Lao People's Democratic Republic 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.