[Field Listing] [The World Factbook Home]

Literacy (Country profile category: People)

Afghanistan:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 31.5%
male: 47.2%
female: 15% (1999 est.)

Albania:
definition: age 9 and over can read and write
total population: 93% (1997 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Algeria:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 61.6%
male: 73.9%
female: 49% (1995 est.)

American Samoa:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 98%
female: 97% (1980 est.)

Andorra:
definition: NA
total population: 100%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Angola:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42%
male: 56%
female: 28% (1998 est.)

Anguilla:
definition: age 12 and over can read and write
total population: 95%
male: 95%
female: 95% (1984 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda:
definition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling
total population: 89%
male: 90%
female: 88% (1960 est.)

Argentina:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.2%
male: 96.2%
female: 96.2% (1995 est.)

Armenia:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1989 est.)

Aruba:
definition: NA
total population: 97%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Australia:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (1980 est.)

Austria:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Azerbaijan:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 99%
female: 96% (1989 est.)

Bahamas, The:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.2%
male: 98.5%
female: 98% (1995 est.)

Bahrain:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85.2%
male: 89.1%
female: 79.4% (1995 est.)

Bangladesh:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 38.1%
male: 49.4%
female: 26.1% (1995 est.)

Barbados:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 97.4%
male: 98%
female: 96.8% (1995 est.)

Belarus:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 97% (1989 est.)

Belgium:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Belize:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 70.3%
male: 70.3%
female: 70.3% (1991 est.)
note: other sources list the literacy rate as high as 75%

Benin:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 37%
male: 48.7%
female: 25.8% (1995 est.)

Bermuda:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 99% (1970 est.)

Bhutan:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42.2%
male: 56.2%
female: 28.1% (1995 est.)

Bolivia:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.1%
male: 90.5%
female: 76% (1995 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Botswana:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 69.8%
male: 80.5%
female: 59.9% (1995 est.)

Brazil:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.3%
male: 83.3%
female: 83.2% (1995 est.)

British Virgin Islands:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.8% (1991 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Brunei:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.2%
male: 92.6%
female: 83.4% (1995 est.)

Bulgaria:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1999)

Burkina Faso:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 19.2%
male: 29.5%
female: 9.2% (1995 est.)

Burma:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.1%
male: 88.7%
female: 77.7% (1995 est.)
note: these are official statistics; estimates of functional literacy are likely closer to 30% (1999 est.)

Burundi:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 35.3%
male: 49.3%
female: 22.5% (1995 est.)

Cambodia:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 35%
male: 48%
female: 22% (1990 est.)

Cameroon:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 63.4%
male: 75%
female: 52.1% (1995 est.)

Canada:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97% (1986 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Cape Verde:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 71.6%
male: 81.4%
female: 63.8% (1995 est.)

Cayman Islands:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1970 est.)

Central African Republic:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 60%
male: 68.5%
female: 52.4% (1995 est.)

Chad:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic
total population: 48.1%
male: 62.1%
female: 34.7% (1995 est.)

Chile:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.2%
male: 95.4%
female: 95% (1995 est.)

China:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 81.5%
male: 89.9%
female: 72.7% (1995 est.)

Colombia:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.3%
male: 91.2%
female: 91.4% (1995 est.)

Comoros:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.3%
male: 64.2%
female: 50.4% (1995 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write French, Lingala, Kingwana, or Tshiluba
total population: 77.3%
male: 86.6%
female: 67.7% (1995 est.)

Congo, Republic of the:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74.9%
male: 83.1%
female: 67.2% (1995 est.)

Cook Islands:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Costa Rica:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.8%
male: 94.7%
female: 95% (1995 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 48.5%
male: 57%
female: 40%

Croatia:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 99%
female: 95% (1991 est.)

Cuba:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.7%
male: 96.2%
female: 95.3% (1995 est.)

Cyprus:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94%
male: 98%
female: 91% (1987 est.)

Czech Republic:
definition: NA
total population: 99.9% (1999 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Denmark:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Djibouti:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 46.2%
male: 60.3%
female: 32.7% (1995 est.)

Dominica:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 94%
male: 94%
female: 94% (1970 est.)

Dominican Republic:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82.1%
male: 82%
female: 82.2% (1995 est.)

Ecuador:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.1%
male: 92%
female: 88.2% (1995 est.)

Egypt:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 51.4%
male: 63.6%
female: 38.8% (1995 est.)

El Salvador:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 71.5%
male: 73.5%
female: 69.8% (1995 est.)

Equatorial Guinea:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 78.5%
male: 89.6%
female: 68.1% (1995 est.)

Eritrea:
definition: NA
total population: 25%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Estonia:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (1998 est.)

Ethiopia:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 35.5%
male: 45.5%
female: 25.3% (1995 est.)

Faroe Islands:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
note: similar to Denmark proper

Fiji:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.6%
male: 93.8%
female: 89.3% (1995 est.)

Finland:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100% (1980 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

France:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1980 est.)

French Guiana:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83%
male: 84%
female: 82% (1982 est.)

French Polynesia:
definition: age 14 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1977 est.)

Gabon:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 63.2%
male: 73.7%
female: 53.3% (1995 est.)

Gambia, The:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 38.6%
male: 52.8%
female: 24.9% (1995 est.)

Gaza Strip:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Georgia:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 100%
female: 98% (1989 est.)

Germany:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1977 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Ghana:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 64.5%
male: 75.9%
female: 53.5% (1995 est.)

Gibraltar:
definition: NA
total population: above 80%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Greece:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95%
male: 98%
female: 93% (1991 est.)

Greenland:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
note: similar to Denmark proper

Grenada:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1970 est.)

Guadeloupe:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90%
male: 90%
female: 90% (1982 est.)

Guam:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1990 est.)

Guatemala:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 55.6%
male: 62.5%
female: 48.6% (1995 est.)

Guernsey:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Guinea:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 35.9%
male: 49.9%
female: 21.9% (1995 est.)

Guinea-Bissau:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 53.9%
male: 67.1%
female: 40.7% (1997 est.)

Guyana:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98.1%
male: 98.6%
female: 97.5% (1995 est.)

Haiti:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 45%
male: 48%
female: 42.2% (1995 est.)

Holy See (Vatican City):
definition: NA
total population: 100%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Honduras:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 72.7%
male: 72.6%
female: 72.7% (1995 est.)

Hong Kong:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 92.2%
male: 96%
female: 88.2% (1996 est.)

Hungary:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1980 est.)

Iceland:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.9% (1997 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

India:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 52%
male: 65.5%
female: 37.7% (1995 est.)

Indonesia:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.8%
male: 89.6%
female: 78% (1995 est.)

Iran:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 72.1%
male: 78.4%
female: 65.8% (1994 est.)

Iraq:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58%
male: 70.7%
female: 45% (1995 est.)

Ireland:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98% (1981 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Israel:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95%
male: 97%
female: 93% (1992 est.)

Italy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98% (1998)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Jamaica:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 85%
male: 80.8%
female: 89.1% (1995 est.)

Japan:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1970 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Jersey:
definition: NA
total: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Jordan:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.6%
male: 93.4%
female: 79.4% (1995 est.)

Kazakhstan:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 96% (1989 est.)

Kenya:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 78.1%
male: 86.3%
female: 70% (1995 est.)

Kiribati:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Korea, North:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write Korean
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1990 est.)

Korea, South:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 99.3%
female: 96.7% (1995 est.)

Kuwait:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 78.6%
male: 82.2%
female: 74.9% (1995 est.)

Kyrgyzstan:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 99%
female: 96% (1989 est.)

Laos:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57%
male: 70%
female: 44% (1999 est.)

Latvia:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 99% (1989 est.)

Lebanon:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.4%
male: 90.8%
female: 82.2% (1997 est.)

Lesotho:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 71.3%
male: 81.1%
female: 62.3% (1995 est.)

Liberia:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 38.3%
male: 53.9%
female: 22.4% (1995 est.)
note: these figures are increasing because of the improving school system

Libya:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.2%
male: 87.9%
female: 63% (1995 est.)

Liechtenstein:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (1981 est.)

Lithuania:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1989 est.)

Luxembourg:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (1980 est.)

Macau:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90%
male: 93%
female: 86% (1981 est.)

Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Madagascar:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 80%
male: 88%
female: 73% (1990 est.)

Malawi:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58%
male: 72.8%
female: 43.4% (1999 est.)

Malaysia:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.5%
male: 89.1%
female: 78.1% (1995 est.)

Maldives:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.2%
male: 93.3%
female: 93% (1995 est.)

Mali:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 31%
male: 39.4%
female: 23.1% (1995 est.)

Malta:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 88%
male: 88%
female: 88% (1985)

Man, Isle of:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Marshall Islands:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93%
male: 100%
female: 88% (1980 est.)

Martinique:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93%
male: 92%
female: 93% (1982 est.)

Mauritania:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 37.7%
male: 49.6%
female: 26.3% (1995 est.)

Mauritius:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82.9%
male: 87.1%
female: 78.8% (1995 est.)

Mayotte:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Mexico:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89.6%
male: 91.8%
female: 87.4% (1995 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89%
male: 91%
female: 88% (1980 est.)

Moldova:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 99%
female: 94% (1989 est.)

Monaco:
definition: NA
total population: 99%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Mongolia:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82.9%
male: 88.6%
female: 77.2% (1988 est.)

Montserrat:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 97% (1970 est.)

Morocco:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 43.7%
male: 56.6%
female: 31% (1995 est.)

Mozambique:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.1%
male: 57.7%
female: 23.3% (1995 est.)

Namibia:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 38%
male: 45%
female: 31% (1960 est.)

Nauru:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Nepal:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 27.5%
male: 40.9%
female: 14% (1995 est.)

Netherlands:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1979 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Netherlands Antilles:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 99% (1981 est.)

New Caledonia:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91%
male: 92%
female: 90% (1976 est.)

New Zealand:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1980 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Nicaragua:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 65.7%
male: 64.6%
female: 66.6% (1995 est.)

Niger:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 13.6%
male: 20.9%
female: 6.6% (1995 est.)

Nigeria:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.1%
male: 67.3%
female: 47.3% (1995 est.)

Niue:
definition: NA
total population: 95%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Northern Mariana Islands:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 96% (1980 est.)

Norway:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Oman:
definition: NA
total population: approaching 80%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Pakistan:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 37.8%
male: 50%
female: 24.4% (1995 est.)

Palau:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92%
male: 93%
female: 90% (1980 est.)

Panama:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.8%
male: 91.4%
female: 90.2% (1995 est.)

Papua New Guinea:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 72.2%
male: 81%
female: 62.7% (1995 est.)

Paraguay:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.1%
male: 93.5%
female: 90.6% (1995 est.)

Peru:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.7%
male: 94.5%
female: 83% (1995 est.)

Philippines:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.6%
male: 95%
female: 94.3% (1995 est.)

Poland:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1978 est.)

Portugal:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87.4%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Puerto Rico:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89%
male: 90%
female: 88% (1980 est.)

Qatar:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79.4%
male: 79.2%
female: 79.9% (1995 est.)

Reunion:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79%
male: 76%
female: 80% (1982 est.)

Romania:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 98%
female: 95% (1992 est.)

Russia:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 100%
female: 97% (1989 est.)

Rwanda:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 60.5%
male: 69.8%
female: 51.6% (1995 est.)

Saint Helena:
definition: age 20 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 98% (1987 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 98% (1980 est.)

Saint Lucia:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 67%
male: 65%
female: 69% (1980 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1982 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 96%
male: 96%
female: 96% (1970 est.)

Samoa:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 97% (1971 est.)

San Marino:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 97%
female: 95% (1976 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 73%
male: 85%
female: 62% (1991 est.)

Saudi Arabia:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 62.8%
male: 71.5%
female: 50.2% (1995 est.)

Senegal:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 33.1%
male: 43%
female: 23.2% (1995 est.)

Serbia and Montenegro:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Seychelles:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58%
male: 56%
female: 60% (1971 est.)

Sierra Leone:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic
total population: 31.4%
male: 45.4%
female: 18.2% (1995 est.)

Singapore:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.1%
male: 95.9%
female: 86.3% (1995 est.)

Slovakia:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Slovenia:
definition: NA
total population: 99%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Solomon Islands:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Somalia:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 24%
male: 36%
female: 14% (1990 est.)

South Africa:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 81.8%
male: 81.9%
female: 81.7% (1995 est.)

Spain:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Sri Lanka:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.2%
male: 93.4%
female: 87.2% (1995 est.)

Sudan:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 46.1%
male: 57.7%
female: 34.6% (1995 est.)

Suriname:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93%
male: 95%
female: 91% (1995 est.)

Swaziland:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.7%
male: 78%
female: 75.6% (1995 est.)

Sweden:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1979 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Switzerland:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1980 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Syria:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 70.8%
male: 85.7%
female: 55.8% (1997 est.)

Tajikistan:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 97% (1989 est.)

Tanzania:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili (Swahili), English, or Arabic
total population: 67.8%
male: 79.4%
female: 56.8% (1995 est.)

Thailand:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.8%
male: 96%
female: 91.6% (1995 est.)

Togo:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 51.7%
male: 67%
female: 37% (1995 est.)

Tonga:
definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English
total population: 98.5%
male: 98.4%
female: 98.7% (1996 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.9%
male: 98.8%
female: 97% (1995 est.)

Tunisia:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 66.7%
male: 78.6%
female: 54.6% (1995 est.)

Turkey:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82.3%
male: 91.7%
female: 72.4% (1995 est.)

Turkmenistan:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 97% (1989 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1970 est.)

Tuvalu:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Uganda:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 61.8%
male: 73.7%
female: 50.2% (1995 est.)

Ukraine:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 100%
female: 97% (1989 est.)

United Arab Emirates:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79.2%
male: 78.9%
female: 79.8% (1995 est.)

United Kingdom:
definition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling
total population: 99% (1978 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

United States:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 97% (1979 est.)

Uruguay:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.3%
male: 96.9%
female: 97.7% (1995 est.)

Uzbekistan:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (yearend 1996)

Vanuatu:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 53%
male: 57%
female: 48% (1979 est.)

Venezuela:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.1%
male: 91.8%
female: 90.3% (1995 est.)

Vietnam:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.7%
male: 96.5%
female: 91.2% (1995 est.)

Virgin Islands:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Wallis and Futuna:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 50%
male: 50%
female: 50% (1969 est.)

West Bank:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Western Sahara:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Yemen:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 38%
male: 53%
female: 26% (1990 est.)

Zambia:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English
total population: 78.2%
male: 85.6%
female: 71.3% (1995 est.)

Zimbabwe:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English
total population: 85%
male: 90%
female: 80% (1995 est.)

Taiwan:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86% (1980 est.); note - literacy for the total population has reportedly increased to 94% (1998 est.)
male: 93% (1980 est.)
female: 79% (1980 est.)

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