Literacy rates among adults in Chile
Chile: Literacy rates among adults was 96.4% in 2017. ▲ Rising
Literacy rates among adults in Chile, 1982–2017
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rates among adults in Chile is 96.4%, measured in 2017.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rates among adults in Chile peaked at 96.9% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 91.1%, in 1982.
That places Chile 29th out of 89 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the middle of the range.
Literacy rates among adults in Chile, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 91.1% | — |
| 1992 | 94.3% | +3.5% |
| 2002 | 95.7% | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 96.7% | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 96.3% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 96.9% | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 96.4% | -0.5% |
Chile compared with similar countries
- Chile's 96.4% is below the median for high income countries, which is 97.7%, 99% of the median. (12 countries reporting)
- Chile's 96.4% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 94.9%, 1.0× the median. (15 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 91.1% | 91.1% | 91.1% | 1 |
| 1990s | 94.3% | 94.3% | 94.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 95.7% | 95.7% | 95.7% | 1 |
| 2010s | 96.6% | 96.3% | 96.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Chile
More education data for Chile
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 96,048 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 21,633 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 280,113 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 264,101 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.63 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.49 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -2.36 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0754 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rates among adults in Chile?
- Literacy rates among adults in Chile was 96.4% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rates among adults recorded in Chile?
- The highest recorded value was 96.9% in 2015.
- What is the lowest literacy rates among adults recorded in Chile?
- The lowest recorded value was 91.1% in 1982.
- How does Chile rank for literacy rates among adults?
- Chile ranks 29th out of 89 countries with data for 2017.
- Is literacy rates among adults rising or falling in Chile?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Chile data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Literacy rates among adults. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population aged 15 years and older who can read and write.