Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male (%) (rate male) in Nepal
Nepal: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male (%) (rate male) was 80.7% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male in Nepal, 1981–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male in Nepal is 80.7%, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.
The figure is up 3.9% on the previous year and up 21.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male in Nepal peaked at 80.7% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 26.8%, in 1981.
Nepal ranks 66th of 88 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male (%) (rate male) in Nepal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 26.8% | — |
| 1991 | 42.3% | +57.8% |
| 2001 | 57.5% | +35.9% |
| 2008 | 66.5% | +15.7% |
| 2011 | 67.6% | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 78.4% | +16.0% |
| 2017 | 77.7% | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 80.7% | +3.9% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 80.7% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 83.7%, 96% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 80.7% is below the median for South Asia, which is 84.6%, 95% of the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 26.8% | 26.8% | 26.8% | 1 |
| 1990s | 42.3% | 42.3% | 42.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 62.0% | 57.5% | 66.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 76.1% | 67.6% | 80.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More education data for Nepal
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 124,257 (2025)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 263,796 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 752,326 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 609,324 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.67 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male in Nepal?
- Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male in Nepal was 80.7% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 80.7% in 2019.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.8% in 1981.
- How does Nepal rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male?
- Nepal ranks 66th out of 88 countries with data for 2019.
- Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.3%. 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, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release