Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Nepal
Nepal: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 66.2% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Nepal, 1981–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2019, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Nepal stood at 66.2%. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.
The figure is up 6.6% on the previous year and up 41.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Nepal peaked at 66.2% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 17.0%, in 1981.
Nepal ranks 70th of 87 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Nepal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 17.0% | — |
| 1991 | 26.3% | +54.7% |
| 2001 | 40.9% | +55.8% |
| 2008 | 47.0% | +14.7% |
| 2011 | 52.2% | +11.1% |
| 2016 | 62.0% | +18.9% |
| 2017 | 62.1% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 66.2% | +6.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 17.0% | 17.0% | 17.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 26.3% | 26.3% | 26.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 43.9% | 40.9% | 47.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 60.6% | 52.2% | 66.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More education data for Nepal
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.57 million (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.31 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1204 units per person (2025)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 3.57 million (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.31 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita 0.1204 units per person (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.69 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Nepal?
- Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Nepal was 66.2% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 66.2% in 2019.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.0% in 1981.
- How does Nepal rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
- Nepal ranks 70th out of 87 countries with data for 2019.
- Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 41.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nepal data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release