Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, urban, both sexes in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, urban, both sexes was 99.1% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, urban, both sexes in Sri Lanka, 1981–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, urban, both sexes in Sri Lanka stood at 99.1%.
That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and up 0.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, urban, both sexes in Sri Lanka peaked at 99.5% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 95.2%, in 2001.
That places Sri Lanka 24th out of 72 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, urban, both sexes in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 95.4% | — |
| 2001 | 95.2% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 96.4% | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 98.0% | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 98.9% | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 98.8% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 98.8% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 99.5% | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 99.3% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 98.9% | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 99.3% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 99.2% | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 99.1% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 99.1% | +0.1% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 99.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 99.1%, 1.0× the median. (28 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 99.1% is above the median for South Asia, which is 97.3%, 1.0× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 95.4% | 95.4% | 95.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 96.5% | 95.2% | 98.0% | 3 |
| 2010s | 99.1% | 98.8% | 99.5% | 5 |
| 2020s | 99.1% | 98.9% | 99.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More education data for Sri Lanka
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 155,543 (2023)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, urban, both sexes in Sri Lanka?
- Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, urban, both sexes in Sri Lanka was 99.1% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, urban, both sexes recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 99.5% in 2018.
- What is the lowest youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, urban, both sexes recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 95.2% in 2001.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, urban, both sexes?
- Sri Lanka ranks 24th out of 72 countries with data for 2024.
- Is youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, urban, both sexes rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, urban, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release