Pakistan Literacy Rate
Adult literacy rate SE.ADT.LITR.ZS
Pakistan's literacy rate was 58.86% in 2021, ranked 38th globally. This represents a 1.5% increase from 2020. Data from World Bank, covering 1981–2021.
Overview
Pakistan's literacy rate stood at 58.86% in 2021, a rise of +0.86pp from 2019. Pakistan ranked 38th globally.
Pakistan’s literacy rate stood at 58.86% in 2021, according to the World Bank, placing it 38th globally and below peer countries such as Nigeria, which recorded a rate of 63.16% in the same year. The country’s literacy rate has shown substantial improvement since 1981, when it reached its all-time low of 25.73%, reflecting gradual progress over four decades. The highest recorded literacy rate was 59.13% in 2017, indicating that gains have plateaued in recent years, with a slight dip by 2021. Despite consistent efforts, the pace of improvement has slowed, particularly in rural areas and among female populations, where access to education remains constrained. Regional disparities and socioeconomic barriers continue to hinder broader advancement. When compared to neighboring and structurally similar nations, Pakistan lags behind Cambodia’s 71.93% and even marginally trails The Gambia’s 51.64%, though it outperforms Côte d'Ivoire at 50.00%. The trajectory of literacy improvement will depend heavily on sustained public investment in education, targeted gender-inclusive policies, and expanded access in underserved regions. Without such measures, significant gains in literacy are unlikely to resume.
Data & projection
| Year | Literacy Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 58.86% | +0.86pp | #38 |
| 2019 | 58.00% | +0.99pp | #46 |
| 2018 | 57.01% | −2.12pp | #41 |
| 2017 | 59.13% | +2.15pp | #39 |
| 2014 | 56.98% | +1.39pp | #40 |
| 2013 | 55.59% | −1.17pp | #30 |
| 2012 | 56.76% | +2.02pp | #41 |
| 2011 | 54.74% | −0.64pp | #48 |
| 2010 | 55.38% | +0.49pp | #45 |
| 2009 | 54.89% | −0.64pp | #28 |
| 2008 | 55.53% | +3.39pp | #27 |
| 2007 | 52.14% | −2.01pp | #25 |
| 2006 | 54.15% | +4.28pp | #24 |
| 2005 | 49.87% | +7.17pp | #17 |
| 1998 | 42.70% | +16.97pp | #3 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Pakistan matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw literacy rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Pakistan's literacy rate was 58.86% in 2021. Ranked 38th globally. This represents a 1.5% increase from the previous year.
Pakistan's literacy rate peaked at 59.13% in 2017.
The lowest literacy rate in Pakistan was 25.73% in 1981.
Pakistan ranks 38th globally in literacy rate as of 2021.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.ADT.LITR.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The literacy rate of Pakistan in 2021 was 58.86%. This ranks 38th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_pakistan_literacy-rate,
title = {Pakistan Literacy Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/pakistan/literacy-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}