Macao SAR, China Literacy Rate
Adult literacy rate SE.ADT.LITR.ZS
Macao SAR, China's literacy rate was 96.54% in 2016, ranked 13th globally. This represents a 0.9% increase from 2015. Data from World Bank, covering 1981–2016.
Overview
Macao SAR, China's literacy rate stood at 96.54% in 2016, a rise of +0.90pp from 2011. Macao SAR, China ranked 13th globally.
Macao’s adult literacy rate rose steadily from 90.38 % in 1981 to a peak of 96.54 % in 2016, placing the Special Administrative Region at 13th highest globally according to World Bank data. The upward trajectory reflects sustained investment in education and the expansion of compulsory schooling that began in the 1980s, allowing the territory to close the gap with peers such as Singapore, which recorded 97.05 % in the same year, and Türkiye, at 95.86 %. While the increase of more than six percentage points over 35 years signals robust progress, the marginal gains after the early 2000s suggest that further improvements will depend on targeting residual illiteracy among older adults and recent migrants. Continued policy focus on adult learning programmes and integration of digital literacy into curricula could push the rate beyond the current ceiling, maintaining Macao’s position among the world’s most literate jurisdictions.
Data & projection
| Year | Literacy Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 96.54% | +0.90pp | #13 |
| 2011 | 95.64% | +2.14pp | #24 |
| 2006 | 93.50% | +2.20pp | #5 |
| 2001 | 91.30% | +0.92pp | #13 |
| 1981 | 90.38% | – | #5 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Macao SAR, China matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2011. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw literacy rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Macao SAR, China's literacy rate was 96.54% in 2016. Ranked 13th globally. This represents a 0.9% increase from the previous year.
Macao SAR, China's literacy rate peaked at 96.54% in 2016.
The lowest literacy rate in Macao SAR, China was 90.38% in 1981.
Macao SAR, China ranks 13th globally in literacy rate as of 2016.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.ADT.LITR.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The literacy rate of Macao SAR, China in 2016 was 96.54%. This ranks 13th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_macao-sar-china_literacy-rate,
title = {Macao SAR, China Literacy Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/macao-sar-china/literacy-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}