Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes in Nepal
Nepal: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes was 55.7% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes in Nepal, 1981–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes in Nepal is 55.7%, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
That represents a change of up 9.6% on the previous year and up 19.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes in Nepal peaked at 55.7% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 15.3%, in 1981.
That places Nepal 43rd out of 53 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes in Nepal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 15.3% | — |
| 2001 | 36.8% | +140.2% |
| 2011 | 46.6% | +26.7% |
| 2016 | 50.8% | +9.1% |
| 2019 | 55.7% | +9.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 15.3% | 15.3% | 15.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 36.8% | 36.8% | 36.8% | 1 |
| 2010s | 51.0% | 46.6% | 55.7% | 3 |
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, rural, both sexes in Nepal?
- Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes in Nepal was 55.7% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 55.7% in 2019.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.3% in 1981.
- How does Nepal rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes?
- Nepal ranks 43rd out of 53 countries with data for 2019.
- Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.6%. 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, rural, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release