Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Pakistan
Pakistan: Literacy rates of older vs. younger population was 29.6% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Pakistan, 1981–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2021, literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Pakistan stood at 29.6%.
That represents a change of down 4.0% on the previous year and up 23.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Pakistan peaked at 30.8% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 12.7%, in 1981.
Pakistan ranks 72nd of 85 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 16 years of available data.
Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 12.7% | — |
| 1998 | 17.7% | +39.7% |
| 2005 | 20.5% | +16.1% |
| 2006 | 24.4% | +18.7% |
| 2007 | 22.9% | -6.0% |
| 2008 | 25.6% | +11.7% |
| 2009 | 24.9% | -2.9% |
| 2010 | 24.9% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 24.0% | -3.5% |
| 2012 | 25.5% | +6.3% |
| 2013 | 24.5% | -3.9% |
| 2014 | 25.3% | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 27.1% | +7.0% |
| 2018 | 26.2% | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 30.8% | +17.6% |
| 2021 | 29.6% | -4.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 12.7% | 12.7% | 12.7% | 1 |
| 1990s | 17.7% | 17.7% | 17.7% | 1 |
| 2000s | 23.6% | 20.5% | 25.6% | 5 |
| 2010s | 26.0% | 24.0% | 30.8% | 8 |
| 2020s | 29.6% | 29.6% | 29.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More education data for Pakistan
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 19.70 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 16.09 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 445,877 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate -13.4 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 9.25 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 19.56 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 10.45 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 13.18 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 9.95 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 20.09 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Pakistan?
- Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Pakistan was 29.6% 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 30.8% in 2019.
- What is the lowest literacy rates of older vs. younger population recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.7% in 1981.
- How does Pakistan rank for literacy rates of older vs. younger population?
- Pakistan ranks 72nd out of 85 countries with data for 2021.
- Is literacy rates of older vs. younger population rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Pakistan 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.