Youth/adult literacy rate in Singapore
Singapore: Youth/adult literacy rate was 99.9% in 2021. ▬ Flat
Latest (2021)
99.9%
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
2nd
of 57 countries
All-time high
99.9%
in 2016
All-time low
99.5%
in 2000
Years of data
13
2000–2021
Youth/adult literacy rate in Singapore, 2000–2021
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for youth/adult literacy rate in Singapore is 99.9%, measured in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth/adult literacy rate in Singapore peaked at 99.9% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 99.5%, in 2000.
Singapore ranks 2nd of 57 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Youth/adult literacy rate in Singapore, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 99.5% | — |
| 2010 | 99.8% | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 99.9% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 99.9% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 99.9% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 99.9% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 99.8% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 99.9% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 99.9% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 99.9% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 99.9% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 99.7% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 99.9% | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 99.5% | 99.5% | 99.5% | 1 |
| 2010s | 99.9% | 99.8% | 99.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 99.8% | 99.7% | 99.9% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Singapore
- 1 Türkiye 100.0% compare
- 1 Uzbekistan 100.0% compare
- 2 Armenia 99.9% compare
- 2 Saudi Arabia 99.9% compare
- 4 Viet Nam 99.0% compare
- 5 Azerbaijan 99.9% compare
More education data for Singapore
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 8,429 (1989)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 163,746 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 238,816 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.4 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0404 units per person (2023)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 238,816 (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.4 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth/adult literacy rate in Singapore?
- Youth/adult literacy rate in Singapore was 99.9% in 2021, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest youth/adult literacy rate recorded in Singapore?
- The highest recorded value was 99.9% in 2016.
- What is the lowest youth/adult literacy rate recorded in Singapore?
- The lowest recorded value was 99.5% in 2000.
- How does Singapore rank for youth/adult literacy rate?
- Singapore ranks 2nd out of 57 countries with data for 2021.
- Is youth/adult literacy rate rising or falling in Singapore?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Singapore 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 — 13 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).