Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, female in Nepal
Nepal: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, female was 59.8% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Latest (2019)
59.8%
Change on year
up 4.4%
World rank
52nd
of 59 countries
All-time high
65.2%
in 2011
All-time low
25.9%
in 1981
Years of data
5
1981–2019
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, female in Nepal, 1981–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
Nepal recorded 59.8% for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, female in 2019.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.4% on the previous year and down 8.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, female in Nepal peaked at 65.2% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 25.9%, in 1981.
Nepal ranks 52nd of 59 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, female in Nepal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 25.9% | — |
| 2001 | 47.9% | +84.6% |
| 2011 | 65.2% | +36.3% |
| 2016 | 57.2% | -12.3% |
| 2019 | 59.8% | +4.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 25.9% | 25.9% | 25.9% | 1 |
| 2000s | 47.9% | 47.9% | 47.9% | 1 |
| 2010s | 60.7% | 57.2% | 65.2% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More education data for Nepal
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, female in Nepal?
- Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, female in Nepal was 59.8% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, female recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 65.2% in 2011.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, female recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.9% in 1981.
- How does Nepal rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, female?
- Nepal ranks 52nd out of 59 countries with data for 2019.
- Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, female rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.4%. 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, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release