Literacy in Iraq
Iraq: Literacy was 84.06 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
84.06
World rank
56th
of 89 countries
All-time high
85.6
in 2017
All-time low
74.05
in 2000
Years of data
6
2000–2021
Literacy in Iraq, 2000–2021
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Iraq recorded 84.06 for literacy in 2021.
The figure is up 8.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy in Iraq peaked at 85.6 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 74.05, in 2000.
That places Iraq 56th out of 89 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
Literacy in Iraq, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 74.05 | — |
| 2012 | 77.2 | +4.3% |
| 2014 | 82.2 | +6.5% |
| 2016 | 83.3 | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 85.6 | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 84.06 | -1.8% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 84.06 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 95.55, 88% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 84.06 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 94.44, 89% of the median. (15 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 74.05 | 74.05 | 74.05 | 1 |
| 2010s | 82.08 | 77.2 | 85.6 | 4 |
| 2020s | 84.06 | 84.06 | 84.06 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More education data for Iraq
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 83.22 (2007)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 89.28 (2007)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy in Iraq?
- Literacy in Iraq was 84.06 in 2021, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 85.6 in 2017.
- What is the lowest literacy recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 74.05 in 2000.
- How does Iraq rank for literacy?
- Iraq ranks 56th out of 89 countries with data for 2021.
- Is literacy 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Literacy. 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).