Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Egypt
Egypt: Literacy rates of older vs. younger population was 38.4% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Egypt, 1976–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Egypt is 38.4%, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 11.7% on the previous year and up 9.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Egypt peaked at 43.5% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 17.9%, in 1976.
That places Egypt 66th out of 85 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Egypt, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 17.9% | — |
| 1986 | 20.0% | +11.8% |
| 1996 | 23.3% | +16.6% |
| 2005 | 23.1% | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 26.8% | +16.1% |
| 2010 | 39.4% | +47.3% |
| 2012 | 35.1% | -11.1% |
| 2013 | 33.6% | -4.1% |
| 2017 | 32.9% | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 43.5% | +32.1% |
| 2022 | 38.4% | -11.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 17.9% | 17.9% | 17.9% | 1 |
| 1980s | 20.0% | 20.0% | 20.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 23.3% | 23.3% | 23.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 24.9% | 23.1% | 26.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 35.3% | 32.9% | 39.4% | 4 |
| 2020s | 40.9% | 38.4% | 43.5% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Egypt
More education data for Egypt
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 11.56 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 3.33 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 483,053 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate -3.63 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 5.58 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 3.94 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 5.98 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 2.77 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.48 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 5.57 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Egypt?
- Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Egypt was 38.4% in 2022, 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 Egypt?
- The highest recorded value was 43.5% in 2021.
- What is the lowest literacy rates of older vs. younger population recorded in Egypt?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.9% in 1976.
- How does Egypt rank for literacy rates of older vs. younger population?
- Egypt ranks 66th out of 85 countries with data for 2022.
- Is literacy rates of older vs. younger population rising or falling in Egypt?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Egypt 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.