Youth/adult literacy rate in Iran (Islamic Republic of)

Iran (Islamic Republic of): Youth/adult literacy rate was 98.1% in 2016. ▬ Flat

Latest (2016)
98.1%
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
41st
of 68 countries
All-time high
98.1%
in 2016
All-time low
96.6%
in 2006
Years of data
8
2005–2016

Youth/adult literacy rate in Iran (Islamic Republic of), 2005–2016

0204060801002005201020162005: 97.42006: 96.62008: 97.92011: 96.72012: 982013: 97.82014: 97.92016: 98.1

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

The most recent figure for youth/adult literacy rate in Iran (Islamic Republic of) is 98.1%, measured in 2016. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 1.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, youth/adult literacy rate in Iran (Islamic Republic of) peaked at 98.1% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 96.6%, in 2006.

Iran (Islamic Republic of) ranks 41st of 68 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Youth/adult literacy rate in Iran (Islamic Republic of), year by year

Annual values for Youth/adult literacy rate (%) in Iran (Islamic Republic of), 2005 to 2016.
Year Value Change
2005 97.4%
2006 96.6% -0.8%
2008 97.9% +1.3%
2011 96.7% -1.2%
2012 98.0% +1.4%
2013 97.8% -0.2%
2014 97.9% +0.2%
2016 98.1% +0.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 97.3% 96.6% 97.9% 3
2010s 97.7% 96.7% 98.1% 5

Countries ranked near Iran (Islamic Republic of)

  1. 38 Dominican Republic 98.2% compare
  2. 39 Thailand 98.2% compare
  3. 40 Tunisia 98.2% compare
  4. 42 Suriname 97.7% compare
  5. 43 South Africa 97.2% compare
  6. 44 India 97.0% compare

See the full ranking of 86 places →

More education data for Iran (Islamic Republic of)

All data for Iran (Islamic Republic of) →

Frequently asked questions

What is youth/adult literacy rate in Iran (Islamic Republic of)?
Youth/adult literacy rate in Iran (Islamic Republic of) was 98.1% in 2016, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest youth/adult literacy rate recorded in Iran (Islamic Republic of)?
The highest recorded value was 98.1% in 2016.
What is the lowest youth/adult literacy rate recorded in Iran (Islamic Republic of)?
The lowest recorded value was 96.6% in 2006.
How does Iran (Islamic Republic of) rank for youth/adult literacy rate?
Iran (Islamic Republic of) ranks 41st out of 68 countries with data for 2016.
Is youth/adult literacy rate rising or falling in Iran (Islamic Republic of)?
Over the last ten years it is up 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Iran (Islamic Republic of) data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Youth/adult literacy rate (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Youth/adult literacy rate in Iran (Islamic Republic of). Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/youth-adult-literacy-rate-percent/iran-islamic-republic-of/

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About this data

Indicator
Youth/adult literacy rate (%)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
86 places, 1,038 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed