Italy Youth Literacy Rate
Literacy rate among youth ages 15-24 SE.ADT.1524.LT.ZS
Italy's youth literacy rate was 99.87% in 2019, ranked 10th globally. This represents a 0.0% increase from 2018. Data from World Bank, covering 1981–2019.
Overview
Italy's youth literacy rate stood at 99.87% in 2019, a rise of +0.01pp from 2011. Italy ranked 10th globally.
Italy’s youth literacy rate has risen modestly but steadily from 99.64 % in 1981 to a peak of 99.87 % in 2019, placing the country tenth worldwide according to the World Bank. The 0.23‑percentage‑point increase over nearly four decades reflects persistent investment in primary education and targeted programs for early school entry, while the narrow margin from the all‑time trough underscores the already high baseline of literacy among Italian adolescents. Compared with peer nations, Italy matches Belarus at 99.87 % and trails Tonga’s 99.89 % but exceeds Cuba’s 99.61 % and Bolivia’s 99.50 %, illustrating its position near the top of the global distribution. The upward trajectory, albeit limited by a ceiling effect, suggests that future gains will depend on addressing residual gaps such as migrant integration and digital competencies, which could modestly lift the rate further or at least sustain the current high level.
Data & projection
| Year | Youth Literacy Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 99.87% | +0.01pp | #10 |
| 2011 | 99.86% | +0.05pp | #4 |
| 2001 | 99.81% | +0.17pp | #2 |
| 1981 | 99.64% | – | #1 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Italy matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 1986. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw youth literacy rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Italy's youth literacy rate was 99.87% in 2019. Ranked 10th globally. This represents a 0.0% increase from the previous year.
Italy's youth literacy rate peaked at 99.87% in 2019.
The lowest youth literacy rate in Italy was 99.64% in 1981.
Italy ranks 10th globally in youth literacy rate as of 2019.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.ADT.1524.LT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The youth literacy rate of Italy in 2019 was 99.87%. This ranks 10th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_italy_youth-literacy-rate,
title = {Italy Youth Literacy Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/italy/youth-literacy-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}