Literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Italy
Italy: Literacy rates vs average years of schooling was 99.35 in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Italy, 1475–2019
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.
Literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Italy, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1475 | 15 | — |
| 1550 | 18 | +20.0% |
| 1650 | 23 | +27.8% |
| 1750 | 23 | +0.0% |
| 1901 | 51.8 | +125.2% |
| 1911 | 62.8 | +21.2% |
| 1921 | 73.2 | +16.6% |
| 1931 | 78.4 | +7.1% |
| 1950 | 87.5 | +11.6% |
| 1981 | 96.46 | +10.2% |
| 2001 | 98.42 | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 98.85 | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 99.35 | +0.5% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 99.35 is above the median for high income countries, which is 97.65, 1.0× the median. (33 countries reporting)
- Italy's 99.35 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 98.5, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Italy changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1901 | +125.2% | 23 | 51.8 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
More education data for Italy
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 97.84 (2023)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 97.94 (2023)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 423,797 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 6,592 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 667,641 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 620,157 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.61 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.63 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.167 % change on previous year (2023)
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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 13 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).