Iran, Islamic Republic of Literacy Rate
Adult literacy rate SE.ADT.LITR.ZS
Iran, Islamic Republic of's literacy rate was 89.76% in 2025, ranked 35th globally. This represents a 0.9% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1976–2025.
Overview
Iran, Islamic Republic of's literacy rate stood at 89.76% in 2025, a rise of +0.84pp from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 89.76% by 2025. Iran, Islamic Republic of ranked 35th globally.
Iran’s adult literacy rate has risen dramatically from 36.52 % in 1976, the all‑time trough, to 89.76 % in 2025, the highest figure recorded for the country and the 35th‑largest share worldwide. This 53.24‑percentage‑point gain over 24 years reflects sustained investment in primary and secondary education, expanded access for women, and extensive adult‑learning programs that began in the post‑revolutionary period and accelerated after the 1990s. The 2025 level is only marginally below peers such as South Africa’s 90.57 % and Thailand’s 90.59 %, indicating that Iran now competes with upper‑middle‑income economies in human‑capital outcomes despite lower per‑capita income. The near‑plateau of the rate since the early 2020s suggests that further improvements will depend on closing residual gaps in rural and marginalized communities, enhancing digital literacy, and maintaining funding amid economic sanctions; continued policy focus could push the rate beyond 90 % in the coming decade.
Data & projection
| Year | Literacy Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 90.14% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 89.76% | - | - |
| 2025 | 89.76% | +0.84pp | #35 |
| 2023 | 88.92% | +0.33pp | #20 |
| 2022 | 88.59% | +0.14pp | #25 |
| 2021 | 88.46% | +0.55pp | #25 |
| 2020 | 87.90% | +0.52pp | #29 |
| 2019 | 87.38% | +0.51pp | #39 |
| 2018 | 86.87% | +0.92pp | #29 |
| 2017 | 85.95% | +0.41pp | #25 |
| 2016 | 85.54% | +0.26pp | #31 |
| 2015 | 85.28% | +0.57pp | #30 |
| 2014 | 84.71% | +0.08pp | #27 |
| 2013 | 84.63% | +1.00pp | #24 |
| 2012 | 83.63% | +0.11pp | #27 |
| 2011 | 83.52% | −0.14pp | #41 |
| 2010 | 83.66% | +0.44pp | #33 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Iran, Islamic Republic of matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2019. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw literacy rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Iran, Islamic Republic of's literacy rate was 89.76% in 2025. Ranked 35th globally. This represents a 0.9% increase from the previous year.
Iran, Islamic Republic of's literacy rate peaked at 89.76% in 2025.
The lowest literacy rate in Iran, Islamic Republic of was 36.52% in 1976.
Iran, Islamic Republic of ranks 35th globally in literacy rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.ADT.LITR.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Iran, Islamic Republic of's literacy rate is projected to reach 89.76% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The literacy rate of Iran, Islamic Republic of in 2025 was 89.76%. This ranks 35th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_iran-islamic-republic-of_literacy-rate,
title = {Iran, Islamic Republic of Literacy Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/iran-islamic-republic-of/literacy-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}