Literacy rates among adults in Myanmar
Myanmar: Literacy rates among adults was 93.5% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Literacy rates among adults in Myanmar, 1983–2020
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 Myanmar is 93.5%, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of up 5.0% on the previous year and up 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rates among adults in Myanmar peaked at 95.8% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 78.6%, in 1983.
Myanmar ranks 42nd of 89 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Literacy rates among adults in Myanmar, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 78.6% | — |
| 2000 | 89.9% | +14.5% |
| 2014 | 90.4% | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 84.8% | -6.2% |
| 2018 | 95.8% | +13.0% |
| 2019 | 89.1% | -7.0% |
| 2020 | 93.5% | +5.0% |
Myanmar compared with similar countries
- Myanmar's 93.5% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 78.2%, 1.2× the median. (31 countries reporting)
- Myanmar's 93.5% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 96.1%, 97% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 78.6% | 78.6% | 78.6% | 1 |
| 2000s | 89.9% | 89.9% | 89.9% | 1 |
| 2010s | 90.0% | 84.8% | 95.8% | 4 |
| 2020s | 93.5% | 93.5% | 93.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Myanmar
More education data for Myanmar
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 153,660 (2018)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 25,434 (2018)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 76,947 (2018)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 77,156 (2018)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.19 million (2018)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 5.30 million (2018)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.64 % change on previous year (2018)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2018)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1014 units per person (2018)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rates among adults in Myanmar?
- Literacy rates among adults in Myanmar was 93.5% in 2020, 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 Myanmar?
- The highest recorded value was 95.8% in 2018.
- What is the lowest literacy rates among adults recorded in Myanmar?
- The lowest recorded value was 78.6% in 1983.
- How does Myanmar rank for literacy rates among adults?
- Myanmar ranks 42nd out of 89 countries with data for 2020.
- Is literacy rates among adults rising or falling in Myanmar?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Myanmar 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.