Literacy rate, youth total in Iraq

Iraq: Literacy rate, youth total was 92.4% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
92.4%
World rank
64th
of 95 countries
All-time high
93.5%
in 2017
All-time low
83.5%
in 2012
Years of data
6
2000–2021

Literacy rate, youth total in Iraq, 2000–2021

0204060801002000201020212000: 84.8 % of people ages 15-242012: 83.5 % of people ages 15-242014: 88.8 % of people ages 15-242016: 90.9 % of people ages 15-242017: 93.5 % of people ages 15-242021: 92.4 % of people ages 15-24

Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of people ages 15-24.

Analysis

In 2021, literacy rate, youth total in Iraq stood at 92.4%.

That represents a change of up 10.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, youth total in Iraq peaked at 93.5% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 83.5%, in 2012.

Iraq ranks 64th of 95 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Literacy rate, youth total in Iraq, year by year

Annual values for Literacy rate, youth total (% of people ages 15-24) in Iraq, 2000 to 2021.
Year % of people ages 15-24 Change
2000 84.8%
2012 83.5% -1.5%
2014 88.8% +6.3%
2016 90.9% +2.4%
2017 93.5% +2.9%
2021 92.4% -1.2%

Iraq compared with similar countries

  • Iraq's 92.4% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 98.9%, 93% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
  • Iraq's 92.4% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 98.7%, 94% of the median. (15 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 84.8% 84.8% 84.8% 1
2010s 89.2% 83.5% 93.5% 4
2020s 92.4% 92.4% 92.4% 1

Countries ranked near Iraq

  1. 61 Nepal 94.2% compare
  2. 62 Indonesia 93.8% compare
  3. 63 Bangladesh 93.5% compare
  4. 65 Türkiye 92.2% compare
  5. 66 Namibia 92.1% compare
  6. 67 Ghana 91.5% compare

See the full ranking of 135 places →

More education data for Iraq

All data for Iraq →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, youth total in Iraq?
Literacy rate, youth total in Iraq was 92.4% in 2021, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest literacy rate, youth total recorded in Iraq?
The highest recorded value was 93.5% in 2017.
What is the lowest literacy rate, youth total recorded in Iraq?
The lowest recorded value was 83.5% in 2012.
How does Iraq rank for literacy rate, youth total?
Iraq ranks 64th out of 95 countries with data for 2021.
Is literacy rate, youth total rising or falling in Iraq?
Over the last ten years it is up 10.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Iraq data come from?
The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Literacy rate, youth total (% of people ages 15-24). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Literacy rate, youth total in Iraq. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/literacy-rate-youth-total-percent-of-people-ages-15-24/iraq/

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About this data

Indicator
Literacy rate, youth total (% of people ages 15-24)
Unit
% of people ages 15-24
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
135 places, 2,762 data points, 1974–2024
Last refreshed

Youth literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15-24 who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.