Pakistan Youth Literacy Rate
Literacy rate among youth ages 15-24 SE.ADT.1524.LT.ZS
Pakistan's youth literacy rate was 73.13% in 2021, ranked 42nd globally. This represents a 0.6% increase from 2020. Data from World Bank, covering 1981–2021.
Overview
Pakistan's youth literacy rate stood at 73.13% in 2021, a rise of +0.43pp from 2019. Pakistan ranked 42nd globally.
Pakistan's youth literacy rate has shown a steady improvement over the past four decades, with a significant increase from 34.78% in 1981 to 73.13% in 2021, ranking #42 globally. The country's youth literacy rate reached an all-time peak of 74.53% in 2017, but slightly dropped to 73.13% by 2021. Compared to other countries with similar literacy rates, Pakistan's youth literacy rate is comparable to that of Nigeria, which has a rate of 73.67%. However, Pakistan lags behind countries like Madagascar, which has a youth literacy rate of 82.38%. The improvement in Pakistan's youth literacy rate is a positive trend, but sustained investment in education and addressing regional disparities will be crucial to further improving the literacy rate. A decline in government spending on education or a significant increase in poverty rates could potentially reverse this trend.
Data & projection
| Year | Youth Literacy Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 73.13% | +0.43pp | #42 |
| 2019 | 72.70% | +0.71pp | #55 |
| 2018 | 71.99% | −2.54pp | #49 |
| 2017 | 74.53% | +1.73pp | #45 |
| 2014 | 72.80% | +1.16pp | #46 |
| 2013 | 71.64% | −0.94pp | #36 |
| 2012 | 72.58% | +1.81pp | #48 |
| 2011 | 70.77% | −0.49pp | #51 |
| 2010 | 71.26% | +0.58pp | #49 |
| 2009 | 70.68% | −0.43pp | #37 |
| 2008 | 71.11% | +4.83pp | #30 |
| 2007 | 66.28% | −2.89pp | #29 |
| 2006 | 69.17% | +4.08pp | #33 |
| 2005 | 65.09% | +9.76pp | #27 |
| 1998 | 55.33% | +20.55pp | #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 youth literacy rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Pakistan's youth literacy rate was 73.13% in 2021. Ranked 42nd globally. This represents a 0.6% increase from the previous year.
Pakistan's youth literacy rate peaked at 74.53% in 2017.
The lowest youth literacy rate in Pakistan was 34.78% in 1981.
Pakistan ranks 42nd globally in youth literacy rate as of 2021.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.ADT.1524.LT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The youth literacy rate of Pakistan in 2021 was 73.13%. This ranks 42nd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_pakistan_youth-literacy-rate,
title = {Pakistan Youth Literacy Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/pakistan/youth-literacy-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}