Literacy rate vs. average years of schooling in Poland
Poland: Literacy rate vs. average years of schooling was 98.7% in 1978. ◆ Volatile
Literacy rate vs. average years of schooling in Poland, 1475–1978
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 Poland is 98.7%, measured in 1978. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.
Over the whole period, literacy rate vs. average years of schooling in Poland peaked at 98.7% in 1978 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1475.
Poland ranks 15th of 128 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Literacy rate vs. average years of schooling in Poland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1475 | 0.0% | — |
| 1550 | 0.0% | — |
| 1650 | 3.0% | — |
| 1750 | 5.0% | +66.7% |
| 1950 | 92.5% | +1750.0% |
| 1978 | 98.7% | +6.7% |
Poland compared with similar countries
- Poland's 98.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 97.7%, 1.0× the median. (33 countries reporting)
- Poland's 98.7% 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 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1550s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1650s | 3.0% | 3.0% | 3.0% | 1 |
| 1750s | 5.0% | 5.0% | 5.0% | 1 |
| 1950s | 92.5% | 92.5% | 92.5% | 1 |
| 1970s | 98.7% | 98.7% | 98.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Poland
More education data for Poland
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 322,900 (2025)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 15,398 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 776,213 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 735,804 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.33 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.60 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.04 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0438 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate vs. average years of schooling in Poland?
- Literacy rate vs. average years of schooling in Poland was 98.7% in 1978, 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 Poland?
- The highest recorded value was 98.7% in 1978.
- What is the lowest literacy rate vs. average years of schooling recorded in Poland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1475.
- How does Poland rank for literacy rate vs. average years of schooling?
- Poland ranks 15th out of 128 countries with data for 1978.
- Where does this Poland 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 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.