Literacy rate vs. average years of schooling in Netherlands
Netherlands: Literacy rate vs. average years of schooling was 98.5% in 1950. ◆ Volatile
Literacy rate vs. average years of schooling in Netherlands, 1475–1950
Source: UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rate vs. average years of schooling in Netherlands is 98.5%, measured in 1950. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
Over the whole period, literacy rate vs. average years of schooling in Netherlands peaked at 98.5% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 12.0%, in 1550.
That places Netherlands 18th out of 128 countries with data for 1950, putting it in the top quarter.
Literacy rate vs. average years of schooling in Netherlands, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1475 | 17.0% | — |
| 1550 | 12.0% | -29.4% |
| 1650 | 53.0% | +341.7% |
| 1750 | 85.0% | +60.4% |
| 1950 | 98.5% | +15.9% |
Netherlands compared with similar countries
- Netherlands's 98.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 97.7%, 1.0× the median. (33 countries reporting)
- Netherlands's 98.5% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 98.5%, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1470s | 17.0% | 17.0% | 17.0% | 1 |
| 1550s | 12.0% | 12.0% | 12.0% | 1 |
| 1650s | 53.0% | 53.0% | 53.0% | 1 |
| 1750s | 85.0% | 85.0% | 85.0% | 1 |
| 1950s | 98.5% | 98.5% | 98.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Netherlands
More education data for Netherlands
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 118,472 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 23,856 (1985)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 247,743 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 240,049 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.61 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.14 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.0937 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.064 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate vs. average years of schooling in Netherlands?
- Literacy rate vs. average years of schooling in Netherlands was 98.5% in 1950, 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 Netherlands?
- The highest recorded value was 98.5% in 1950.
- What is the lowest literacy rate vs. average years of schooling recorded in Netherlands?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.0% in 1550.
- How does Netherlands rank for literacy rate vs. average years of schooling?
- Netherlands ranks 18th out of 128 countries with data for 1950.
- Where does this Netherlands 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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CSV · JSON — 5 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of adults who can read and write a simple statement about their everyday life.