Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Pakistan
Pakistan: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 54.8% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Pakistan, 1981–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Pakistan is 54.8%, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 16 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.2% on the previous year and up 14.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Pakistan peaked at 54.8% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 23.3%, in 1981.
That places Pakistan 76th out of 87 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 16 years of available data.
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 23.3% | — |
| 1998 | 38.0% | +63.0% |
| 2005 | 43.7% | +14.9% |
| 2006 | 47.8% | +9.3% |
| 2007 | 46.5% | -2.6% |
| 2008 | 49.0% | +5.2% |
| 2009 | 48.2% | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 48.7% | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 48.0% | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 50.0% | +4.0% |
| 2013 | 48.8% | -2.3% |
| 2014 | 50.2% | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 52.3% | +4.3% |
| 2018 | 52.4% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 53.1% | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 54.8% | +3.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 23.3% | 23.3% | 23.3% | 1 |
| 1990s | 38.0% | 38.0% | 38.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 47.0% | 43.7% | 49.0% | 5 |
| 2010s | 50.4% | 48.0% | 53.1% | 8 |
| 2020s | 54.8% | 54.8% | 54.8% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
- 73 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 64.5% compare
- 74 Morocco 60.0% compare
- 75 Mozambique 58.9% compare
- 77 Côte d'Ivoire 52.4% compare
- 78 Ethiopia 51.1% compare
- 79 Senegal 44.6% compare
More education data for Pakistan
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.04 million (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 440,233 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 5.05 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4.90 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 19.70 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 25.38 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 3.1 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.101 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Pakistan?
- Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Pakistan was 54.8% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 54.8% in 2021.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.3% in 1981.
- How does Pakistan rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
- Pakistan ranks 76th out of 87 countries with data for 2021.
- Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Pakistan 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