Literacy rate vs. average years of schooling in Greece
Greece: Literacy rate vs. average years of schooling was 93.9% in 2009. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate vs. average years of schooling in Greece, 1907–2009
Source: UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Greece recorded 93.9% for literacy rate vs. average years of schooling in 2009.
That represents a change of down 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate vs. average years of schooling in Greece peaked at 96.0% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 39.5%, in 1907.
That places Greece 64th out of 128 countries with data for 2009, putting it in the middle of the range.
Literacy rate vs. average years of schooling in Greece, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1907 | 39.5% | — |
| 1920 | 48.0% | +21.5% |
| 1928 | 58.1% | +21.0% |
| 1950 | 72.5% | +24.8% |
| 1981 | 90.5% | +24.8% |
| 1991 | 92.6% | +2.3% |
| 2001 | 96.0% | +3.6% |
| 2009 | 93.9% | -2.2% |
Greece compared with similar countries
- Greece's 93.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 97.7%, 96% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
- Greece's 93.9% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 98.5%, 95% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 39.5% | 39.5% | 39.5% | 1 |
| 1920s | 53.0% | 48.0% | 58.1% | 2 |
| 1950s | 72.5% | 72.5% | 72.5% | 1 |
| 1980s | 90.5% | 90.5% | 90.5% | 1 |
| 1990s | 92.6% | 92.6% | 92.6% | 1 |
| 2000s | 94.9% | 93.9% | 96.0% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Greece
More education data for Greece
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 82,575 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 7,545 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 90,546 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 83,794 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 687,813 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 578,574 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0556 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate vs. average years of schooling in Greece?
- Literacy rate vs. average years of schooling in Greece was 93.9% in 2009, according to UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rate vs. average years of schooling recorded in Greece?
- The highest recorded value was 96.0% in 2001.
- What is the lowest literacy rate vs. average years of schooling recorded in Greece?
- The lowest recorded value was 39.5% in 1907.
- How does Greece rank for literacy rate vs. average years of schooling?
- Greece ranks 64th out of 128 countries with data for 2009.
- Is literacy rate vs. average years of schooling rising or falling in Greece?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Greece data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Literacy rate vs. average years of schooling. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of adults who can read and write a simple statement about their everyday life.