Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes in Nepal
Nepal: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes was 70.9% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes in Nepal, 1981–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2019, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes in Nepal stood at 70.9%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.0% on the previous year and down 6.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes in Nepal peaked at 75.9% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 42.0%, in 1981.
That places Nepal 51st out of 57 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes in Nepal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 42.0% | — |
| 2001 | 63.4% | +51.2% |
| 2011 | 75.9% | +19.7% |
| 2016 | 68.8% | -9.4% |
| 2019 | 70.9% | +3.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 42.0% | 42.0% | 42.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 63.4% | 63.4% | 63.4% | 1 |
| 2010s | 71.8% | 68.8% | 75.9% | 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, urban, both sexes in Nepal?
- Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes in Nepal was 70.9% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 75.9% in 2011.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 42.0% in 1981.
- How does Nepal rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes?
- Nepal ranks 51st out of 57 countries with data for 2019.
- Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.6%. 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, urban, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release