Youth/adult literacy rate in Pakistan
Pakistan: Youth/adult literacy rate was 73.1% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Youth/adult literacy rate in Pakistan, 2005–2021
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for youth/adult literacy rate in Pakistan is 73.1%, measured in 2021.
The figure is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 3.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth/adult literacy rate in Pakistan peaked at 74.5% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 65.1%, in 2005.
That places Pakistan 51st out of 57 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.
Youth/adult literacy rate in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 65.1% | — |
| 2006 | 69.2% | +6.3% |
| 2007 | 66.3% | -4.2% |
| 2008 | 71.1% | +7.3% |
| 2009 | 70.7% | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 71.3% | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 70.8% | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 72.6% | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 71.6% | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 72.8% | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 74.5% | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 72.0% | -3.4% |
| 2019 | 72.7% | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 73.1% | +0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 68.5% | 65.1% | 71.1% | 5 |
| 2010s | 72.3% | 70.8% | 74.5% | 8 |
| 2020s | 73.1% | 73.1% | 73.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More education data for Pakistan
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 440,233 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 5.05 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4.90 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 19.70 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 25.38 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 3.1 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.101 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth/adult literacy rate in Pakistan?
- Youth/adult literacy rate in Pakistan was 73.1% in 2021, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest youth/adult literacy rate recorded in Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 74.5% in 2017.
- What is the lowest youth/adult literacy rate recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 65.1% in 2005.
- How does Pakistan rank for youth/adult literacy rate?
- Pakistan ranks 51st out of 57 countries with data for 2021.
- Is youth/adult literacy rate rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Pakistan 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 14 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).