Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Laos
Laos: Literacy rates of older vs. younger population was 38.8% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Laos, 1995–2023
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 Laos is 38.8%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 33.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Laos peaked at 58.6% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 23.9%, in 1995.
That places Laos 65th out of 85 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Laos, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 23.9% | — |
| 2000 | 36.3% | +51.9% |
| 2001 | 28.4% | -21.8% |
| 2005 | 35.4% | +24.6% |
| 2015 | 58.6% | +65.5% |
| 2017 | 41.9% | -28.5% |
| 2023 | 38.8% | -7.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 23.9% | 23.9% | 23.9% | 1 |
| 2000s | 33.4% | 28.4% | 36.3% | 3 |
| 2010s | 50.2% | 41.9% | 58.6% | 2 |
| 2020s | 38.8% | 38.8% | 38.8% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Laos
More education data for Laos
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 23.24 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 11,991 (2025)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 9,854 (2025)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 22,851 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 25.69 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 23,391 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 20.93 % change on previous year (2024)
- Theoretical duration of primary education (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of pre-primary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non) 0.0494 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Laos?
- Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Laos was 38.8% in 2023, 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 Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 58.6% in 2015.
- What is the lowest literacy rates of older vs. younger population recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.9% in 1995.
- How does Laos rank for literacy rates of older vs. younger population?
- Laos ranks 65th out of 85 countries with data for 2023.
- Is literacy rates of older vs. younger population rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Laos 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 7 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the population aged 65 years and older who can read and write.