Literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Italy

Italy: Literacy rates vs average years of schooling was 99.35 in 2019. β—† Volatile

Latest (2019)
99.35
World rank
8th
of 128 countries
All-time high
99.35
in 2019
All-time low
15
in 1475
Years of data
13
1475–2019

Literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Italy, 1475–2019

204060801001475174720191475: 151550: 181650: 231750: 231901: 51.81911: 62.81921: 73.21931: 78.41950: 87.51981: 96.52001: 98.42011: 98.82019: 99.3

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2019, literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Italy stood at 99.35. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.

That represents a change of up 0.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Italy peaked at 99.35 in 2019 and was at its lowest, 15, in 1475.

That places Italy 8th out of 128 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1470s 15 15 15 1
1550s 18 18 18 1
1650s 23 23 23 1
1750s 23 23 23 1
1900s 51.8 51.8 51.8 1
1910s 62.8 62.8 62.8 1
1920s 73.2 73.2 73.2 1
1930s 78.4 78.4 78.4 1
1950s 87.5 87.5 87.5 1
1980s 96.46 96.46 96.46 1
2000s 98.42 98.42 98.42 1
2010s 99.1 98.85 99.35 2

Countries ranked near Italy

  1. 5 Spain 99.7 compare
  2. 6 Georgia 99.56 compare
  3. 7 Tonga 99.48 compare
  4. 9 Serbia, Republic of 99.34 compare
  5. 10 Qatar 99.3 compare
  6. 11 Romania 99.16 compare

See the full ranking of 128 places β†’

More education data for Italy

All data for Italy β†’

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Italy?
Literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Italy was 99.35 in 2019, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest literacy rates vs average years of schooling recorded in Italy?
The highest recorded value was 99.35 in 2019.
What is the lowest literacy rates vs average years of schooling recorded in Italy?
The lowest recorded value was 15 in 1475.
How does Italy rank for literacy rates vs average years of schooling?
Italy ranks 8th out of 128 countries with data for 2019.
Is literacy rates vs average years of schooling rising or falling in Italy?
Over the last ten years it is up 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Italy data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Literacy rates vs average years of schooling. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Italy. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 19 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/literacy-rates-vs-average-years-of-schooling/italy/

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About this data

Indicator
Literacy rates vs average years of schooling
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
128 places, 1,242 data points, 1475–2023
Last refreshed