Literacy rates among adults in Iraq
Iraq: Literacy rates among adults was 84.1% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
84.1%
World rank
56th
of 89 countries
All-time high
85.6%
in 2017
All-time low
74.0%
in 2000
Years of data
6
2000–2021
Literacy rates among adults in Iraq, 2000–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Iraq recorded 84.1% for literacy rates among adults in 2021.
The figure is up 8.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rates among adults in Iraq peaked at 85.6% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 74.0%, in 2000.
That places Iraq 56th out of 89 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 74.0% | 74.0% | 74.0% | 1 |
| 2010s | 82.1% | 77.2% | 85.6% | 4 |
| 2020s | 84.1% | 84.1% | 84.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More education data for Iraq
- Duration of pre-primary education 2 years (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre-primary education 4 years (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 60.5% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 36.0% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 12 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 6 years (2025)
- School enrollment, primary 104.6% (2007)
- Primary education, teachers 286,890 (2007)
- Fertility rate vs. average years of schooling 3.22 live births per woman (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, female 94.9% (2007)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rates among adults in Iraq?
- Literacy rates among adults in Iraq was 84.1% in 2021, 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 Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 85.6% in 2017.
- What is the lowest literacy rates among adults recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 74.0% in 2000.
- How does Iraq rank for literacy rates among adults?
- Iraq ranks 56th out of 89 countries with data for 2021.
- Is literacy rates among adults rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iraq 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.