Literacy rates among adults in Vanuatu
Vanuatu: Literacy rates among adults was 88.0% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Literacy rates among adults in Vanuatu, 1979–2023
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 Vanuatu is 88.0%, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 2.0% on the previous year and down 4.9% over five years.
Over the whole period, literacy rates among adults in Vanuatu peaked at 92.5% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 52.9%, in 1979.
Vanuatu ranks 52nd of 89 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 52.9% | 52.9% | 52.9% | 1 |
| 1990s | 74.0% | 74.0% | 74.0% | 1 |
| 2010s | 92.5% | 92.5% | 92.5% | 1 |
| 2020s | 88.9% | 88.0% | 89.8% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Vanuatu
More education data for Vanuatu
- Duration of pre-primary education 2 years (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre-primary education 4 years (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 57.7% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 38.0% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 12 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 6 years (2025)
- School enrollment, primary 112.5% (2024)
- Primary education, teachers 1,892 (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. average years of schooling 3.57 live births per woman (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, female 110.6% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rates among adults in Vanuatu?
- Literacy rates among adults in Vanuatu was 88.0% in 2023, 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 Vanuatu?
- The highest recorded value was 92.5% in 2019.
- What is the lowest literacy rates among adults recorded in Vanuatu?
- The lowest recorded value was 52.9% in 1979.
- How does Vanuatu rank for literacy rates among adults?
- Vanuatu ranks 52nd out of 89 countries with data for 2023.
- Where does this Vanuatu 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.