Nepal Youth Literacy Rate
Literacy rate among youth ages 15-24 SE.ADT.1524.LT.ZS
Nepal's youth literacy rate was 97.09% in 2025, ranked 40th globally. This represents a 5.1% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1981–2025.
Overview
Nepal's youth literacy rate stood at 97.09% in 2025, a rise of +4.69pp from 2022. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 97.09% by 2025. Nepal ranked 40th globally.
Nepal’s youth literacy rate has risen dramatically from a trough of 30.04 % in 1981 to an all‑time peak of 97.09 % in 2025, placing the country 40th globally. This 66.95‑percentage‑point increase over four decades reflects sustained investment in primary education, expansion of school infrastructure in rural districts, and targeted literacy campaigns for adolescents. The recent figure of 97.09 % surpasses the 96.84 % recorded for South Africa and approaches the 98.06 % achieved by El Salvador, indicating that Nepal now competes with upper‑mid‑range performers among developing economies. The 11‑year coverage window captures the period during which the World Bank’s monitoring intensified, coinciding with the rollout of the National Education Policy of 2019 that emphasized universal secondary schooling. Continued progress will depend on maintaining funding levels, improving teacher quality, and addressing gender gaps in remote areas; if these conditions hold, the upward trajectory is likely to persist, potentially moving Nepal into the top‑30 rankings within the next decade.
Data & projection
| Year | Youth Literacy Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025* trend | 97.09% | - | - |
| 2025 | 97.09% | +4.69pp | #40 |
| 2022 | 92.40% | −1.84pp | #42 |
| 2019 | 94.24% | +1.30pp | #47 |
| 2017 | 92.94% | +3.85pp | #34 |
| 2016 | 89.09% | +4.33pp | #38 |
| 2011 | 84.76% | +2.51pp | #46 |
| 2008 | 82.25% | +0.15pp | #28 |
| 2006 | 82.10% | +12.05pp | #28 |
| 2001 | 70.05% | +20.45pp | #30 |
| 1991 | 49.60% | +19.56pp | #22 |
| 1981 | 30.04% | – | #18 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Nepal matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2016. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw youth literacy rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Nepal's youth literacy rate was 97.09% in 2025. Ranked 40th globally. This represents a 5.1% increase from the previous year.
Nepal's youth literacy rate peaked at 97.09% in 2025.
The lowest youth literacy rate in Nepal was 30.04% in 1981.
Nepal ranks 40th globally in youth literacy rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.ADT.1524.LT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Nepal's youth literacy rate is projected to reach 97.09% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The youth literacy rate of Nepal in 2025 was 97.09%. This ranks 40th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_nepal_youth-literacy-rate,
title = {Nepal Youth Literacy Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/nepal/youth-literacy-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}