Haiti Literacy Rate
Adult literacy rate SE.ADT.LITR.ZS
Haiti's literacy rate was 68.01% in 2017, ranked 33rd globally. This represents a 8.1% decrease from 2016. Data from World Bank, covering 1982–2017.
Overview
Haiti's literacy rate stood at 68.01% in 2017, a decline of +6.02pp from 2012. Haiti ranked 33rd globally.
Haiti’s adult literacy rate rose from a low of 34.73 % in 1982, the all‑time trough, to a peak of 74.03 % in 2012, before slipping slightly to 68.01 % in the latest 2017 estimate, ranking it 33rd globally. The steep increase over three decades reflects expanded primary schooling and adult‑education programmes, yet the modest decline after 2012 suggests that gains have stalled amid recurrent natural disasters, political instability and limited fiscal capacity for education. Compared with peers of similar rank, Burundi posted a slightly higher rate of 68.38 % while Nepal lagged at 66.88 %, underscoring that Haiti remains near the median of low‑income countries. The 4‑year coverage of the World Bank data highlights a relatively recent snapshot; sustaining the upward trajectory will likely depend on consistent investment in teacher training, infrastructure resilience and targeted literacy interventions, especially in rural and disaster‑prone areas.
Data & projection
| Year | Literacy Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 68.01% | −6.02pp | #33 |
| 2012 | 74.03% | +15.29pp | #33 |
| 2003 | 58.74% | +24.01pp | #8 |
| 1982 | 34.73% | – | #6 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Haiti matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2024. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw literacy rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Haiti's literacy rate was 68.01% in 2017. Ranked 33rd globally. This represents a 8.1% decrease from the previous year.
Haiti's literacy rate peaked at 74.03% in 2012.
The lowest literacy rate in Haiti was 34.73% in 1982.
Haiti ranks 33rd globally in literacy rate as of 2017.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.ADT.LITR.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The literacy rate of Haiti in 2017 was 68.01%. This ranks 33rd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_haiti_literacy-rate,
title = {Haiti Literacy Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/haiti/literacy-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}