Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Macao
Macao: Literacy rates of older vs. younger population was 81.2% in 2016. ▲ Rising
Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Macao, 1981–2016
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2016, literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Macao stood at 81.2%. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is up 35.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Macao peaked at 81.2% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 56.2%, in 2001.
Macao ranks 34th of 85 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Macao, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 72.4% | — |
| 2001 | 56.2% | -22.4% |
| 2006 | 60.1% | +6.9% |
| 2011 | 72.6% | +20.9% |
| 2016 | 81.2% | +11.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 72.4% | 72.4% | 72.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 58.1% | 56.2% | 60.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 76.9% | 72.6% | 81.2% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Macao
More education data for Macao
- Start of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non) 0.0494 % change on previous year (2025)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2,349 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 547 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 30,211 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 11.27 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 25,400 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 13.18 % 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)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 2,896 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Macao?
- Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Macao was 81.2% in 2016, 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 Macao?
- The highest recorded value was 81.2% in 2016.
- What is the lowest literacy rates of older vs. younger population recorded in Macao?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.2% in 2001.
- How does Macao rank for literacy rates of older vs. younger population?
- Macao ranks 34th out of 85 countries with data for 2016.
- Is literacy rates of older vs. younger population rising or falling in Macao?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Macao 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.