Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes in Malaysia
Malaysia: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes was 97.4% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes in Malaysia, 1991–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes in Malaysia is 97.4%, measured in 2022.
The figure is up 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes in Malaysia peaked at 97.6% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 88.6%, in 1991.
That places Malaysia 25th out of 57 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 88.6% | — |
| 2000 | 93.2% | +5.1% |
| 2010 | 96.3% | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 97.5% | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 97.6% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 97.4% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 97.4% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 97.4% | -0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 88.6% | 88.6% | 88.6% | 1 |
| 2000s | 93.2% | 93.2% | 93.2% | 1 |
| 2010s | 97.2% | 96.3% | 97.6% | 5 |
| 2020s | 97.4% | 97.4% | 97.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More education data for Malaysia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 217,105 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 475,967 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 460,041 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.64 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.06 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.2 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0859 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes in Malaysia?
- Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes in Malaysia was 97.4% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 97.6% in 2017.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 88.6% in 1991.
- How does Malaysia rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes?
- Malaysia ranks 25th out of 57 countries with data for 2022.
- Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release