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.
Literacy rates among adults in Iraq, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 74.0% | — |
| 2012 | 77.2% | +4.3% |
| 2014 | 82.2% | +6.5% |
| 2016 | 83.3% | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 85.6% | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 84.1% | -1.8% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 84.1% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 95.5%, 88% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 84.1% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 94.4%, 89% of the median. (15 countries reporting)
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
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 148,363 (2007)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 818,729 (2007)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 55,944 (2007)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 52,985 (2007)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.04 million (2007)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.86 million (2007)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.26 % change on previous year (2004)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2007)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1713 units per person (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.