Singapore Literacy Rate
Adult literacy rate SE.ADT.LITR.ZS
Overview
Singapore's literacy rate stood at 97.65% in 2021, a rise of +0.52pp from 2020. Singapore ranked 9th globally.
Data & projection
| Year | Literacy Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 97.65% | +0.52pp | #9 |
| 2020 | 97.13% | −0.35pp | #12 |
| 2019 | 97.48% | +0.14pp | #14 |
| 2018 | 97.34% | +0.14pp | #7 |
| 2017 | 97.20% | +0.15pp | #7 |
| 2016 | 97.05% | +0.22pp | #11 |
| 2015 | 96.83% | +0.11pp | #7 |
| 2014 | 96.72% | +0.17pp | #9 |
| 2013 | 96.55% | +0.18pp | #8 |
| 2012 | 96.37% | +0.18pp | #8 |
| 2011 | 96.19% | +0.33pp | #21 |
| 2010 | 95.86% | +3.31pp | #10 |
| 2000 | 92.55% | +3.45pp | #13 |
| 1990 | 89.10% | +6.19pp | #6 |
| 1980 | 82.91% | – | #12 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Singapore matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw literacy rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Singapore's literacy rate was 97.65% in 2021. Ranked 9th globally. This represents a 0.5% increase from the previous year.
Singapore's literacy rate peaked at 97.65% in 2021.
The lowest literacy rate in Singapore was 82.91% in 1980.
Singapore ranks 9th 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 Singapore in 2021 was 97.65%. This ranks 9th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_singapore_literacy-rate,
title = {Singapore Literacy Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/singapore/literacy-rate},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}