Youth/adult literacy rate in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Youth/adult literacy rate was 98.9% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Latest (2024)
98.9%
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
24th
of 57 countries
All-time high
99.1%
in 2023
All-time low
95.6%
in 2001
Years of data
13
2001–2024
Youth/adult literacy rate in Sri Lanka, 2001–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for youth/adult literacy rate in Sri Lanka is 98.9%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and up 0.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth/adult literacy rate in Sri Lanka peaked at 99.1% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 95.6%, in 2001.
Sri Lanka ranks 24th of 57 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Youth/adult literacy rate in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 95.6% | — |
| 2006 | 97.5% | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 98.0% | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 98.2% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 98.7% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 98.9% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 98.8% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 99.0% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 98.9% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 98.9% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 98.8% | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 99.1% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 98.9% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 97.0% | 95.6% | 98.0% | 3 |
| 2010s | 98.7% | 98.2% | 99.0% | 5 |
| 2020s | 98.9% | 98.8% | 99.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More education data for Sri Lanka
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 224,799 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 214,300 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.54 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.58 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -2.89 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0715 units per person (2023)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth/adult literacy rate in Sri Lanka?
- Youth/adult literacy rate in Sri Lanka was 98.9% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest youth/adult literacy rate recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 99.1% in 2023.
- What is the lowest youth/adult literacy rate recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 95.6% in 2001.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for youth/adult literacy rate?
- Sri Lanka ranks 24th out of 57 countries with data for 2024.
- Is youth/adult literacy rate rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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).