Literacy rates among adults in Macao
Macao: Literacy rates among adults was 96.5% in 2016. ▲ Rising
Literacy rates among adults in Macao, 1981–2016
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 Macao is 96.5%, measured in 2016. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rates among adults in Macao peaked at 96.5% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 90.4%, in 1981.
Macao ranks 27th of 89 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Literacy rates among adults in Macao, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 90.4% | — |
| 2001 | 91.3% | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 93.5% | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 95.6% | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 96.5% | +0.9% |
Macao compared with similar countries
- Macao's 96.5% is below the median for high income countries, which is 97.7%, 99% of the median. (12 countries reporting)
- Macao's 96.5% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 96.1%, 1.0× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 90.4% | 90.4% | 90.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 92.4% | 91.3% | 93.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 96.1% | 95.6% | 96.5% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Macao
More education data for Macao
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 8,379 (2024)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2,938 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 239 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2,896 (2024)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), annual growth 0.0495 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 16,188 (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 3.99 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 16,303 (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 4.92 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 15,314 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rates among adults in Macao?
- Literacy rates among adults in Macao was 96.5% in 2016, 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 Macao?
- The highest recorded value was 96.5% in 2016.
- What is the lowest literacy rates among adults recorded in Macao?
- The lowest recorded value was 90.4% in 1981.
- How does Macao rank for literacy rates among adults?
- Macao ranks 27th out of 89 countries with data for 2016.
- Is literacy rates among adults rising or falling in Macao?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Macao 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.