Cambodia Literacy Rate
Adult literacy rate SE.ADT.LITR.ZS
Cambodia's literacy rate was 71.93% in 2021, ranked 36th globally. This represents a 12.9% decrease from 2020. Data from World Bank, covering 1998–2021.
Overview
Cambodia's literacy rate stood at 71.93% in 2021, a decline of +10.67pp from 2020. Cambodia ranked 36th globally.
Cambodia’s adult literacy rate rose from 67.34 % in 1998, the lowest point recorded, to a high of 87.66 % in 2019, before slipping to 71.93 % in 2021, placing the country 36th globally. The steep climb during the early 2000s reflected expanded primary education under the government’s Education Strategic Plan, yet the recent decline suggests that gains from earlier reforms are eroding, possibly due to inadequate funding and the impact of the COVID‑19 pandemic on school attendance. Compared with peers, Cambodia’s 2021 figure exceeds Nigeria’s 63.16 % but trails Madagascar’s 74.69 % and Comoros’s 75.83 %, indicating a middle‑of‑the‑pack performance in the region. The ten‑year coverage of the data highlights a volatile trajectory, with the peak in 2019 marking the most recent achievement. Sustained investment in teacher training, curriculum development and distance‑learning infrastructure will be crucial to reverse the downward swing and restore upward momentum in literacy rates.
Data & projection
| Year | Literacy Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 71.93% | −10.67pp | #36 |
| 2020 | 82.60% | −5.06pp | #31 |
| 2019 | 87.66% | +7.13pp | #37 |
| 2015 | 80.53% | +2.47pp | #32 |
| 2014 | 78.06% | −1.59pp | #32 |
| 2013 | 79.65% | +3.51pp | #25 |
| 2009 | 76.14% | −0.73pp | #25 |
| 2008 | 76.87% | +3.26pp | #23 |
| 2004 | 73.61% | +6.27pp | #14 |
| 1998 | 67.34% | – | #1 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Cambodia matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw literacy rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambodia's literacy rate was 71.93% in 2021. Ranked 36th globally. This represents a 12.9% decrease from the previous year.
Cambodia's literacy rate peaked at 87.66% in 2019.
The lowest literacy rate in Cambodia was 67.34% in 1998.
Cambodia ranks 36th globally in literacy rate as of 2021.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.ADT.LITR.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The literacy rate of Cambodia in 2021 was 71.93%. This ranks 36th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_cambodia_literacy-rate,
title = {Cambodia Literacy Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/cambodia/literacy-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}