Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Cambodia
Cambodia: Literacy rates of older vs. younger population was 32.1% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Cambodia, 1998–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Cambodia recorded 32.1% for literacy rates of older vs. younger population in 2021.
The figure is down 56.0% on the previous year and down 31.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Cambodia peaked at 73.0% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 30.4%, in 1998.
Cambodia ranks 70th of 85 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Cambodia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 30.4% | — |
| 2004 | 38.1% | +25.3% |
| 2008 | 44.2% | +16.0% |
| 2009 | 46.7% | +5.5% |
| 2013 | 51.9% | +11.0% |
| 2014 | 46.6% | -10.2% |
| 2015 | 53.1% | +14.0% |
| 2019 | 73.0% | +37.6% |
| 2021 | 32.1% | -56.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 30.4% | 30.4% | 30.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 43.0% | 38.1% | 46.7% | 3 |
| 2010s | 56.1% | 46.6% | 73.0% | 4 |
| 2020s | 32.1% | 32.1% | 32.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Cambodia
More education data for Cambodia
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 555,107 (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 2.15 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 400,959 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 3.97 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 316,105 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 25.65 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 27,672 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 18,344 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 165,994 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 23.14 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Cambodia?
- Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Cambodia was 32.1% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rates of older vs. younger population recorded in Cambodia?
- The highest recorded value was 73.0% in 2019.
- What is the lowest literacy rates of older vs. younger population recorded in Cambodia?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.4% in 1998.
- How does Cambodia rank for literacy rates of older vs. younger population?
- Cambodia ranks 70th out of 85 countries with data for 2021.
- Is literacy rates of older vs. younger population rising or falling in Cambodia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Cambodia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Literacy rates of older vs. younger population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population aged 65 years and older who can read and write.