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Sri Lanka Literacy Rate

Adult literacy rate  SE.ADT.LITR.ZS

92.81% +0.15pp (+0.2%)
Year 2025 Rank #32 Global Peak 92.81% (2025) Source World Bank

Sri Lanka Literacy Rate (1981–2025)

Overview

Sri Lanka's literacy rate stood at 92.81% in 2025, a rise of +0.15pp from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 92.81% by 2025. Sri Lanka ranked 32nd globally.

Data & projection

Year Literacy Rate YoY change Rank
2026* trend 92.91% - -
2025* trend 92.81% - -
2025 92.81% +0.15pp #32
2023 92.66% +0.17pp #18
2022 92.49% +0.06pp #21
2021 92.43% +0.05pp #21
2020 92.38% +0.13pp #26
2019 92.25% +0.54pp #30
2018 91.71% −0.19pp #25
2017 91.90% −0.49pp #23
2016 92.39% −0.18pp #25
2015 92.57% +0.02pp #22
2014 92.55% +1.37pp #19
2010 91.18% +0.62pp #27
2008 90.56% −0.25pp #17
2006 90.81% +0.13pp #11
2001 90.68% +3.90pp #15
Show all years (1981-2025)
* Linear trend extrapolation

Detected Pattern

Export Boom Cycle
Current account surplus with strong export growth (>15% YoY), reserve accumulation, and moderate GDP growth. Typical of commodity exporters during price surges.
Reserves YoY +38.3% GDP growth 5.0% C/A balance 1.2%
Occurred 768 times, 546 successful
Reserves YoY
+25.6%
GDP growth
4.0%
C/A balance
14.5%
Reserves YoY
+14.6%
GDP growth
3.7%
C/A balance
2.9%
Reserves YoY
+12.8%
GDP growth
43.8%
C/A balance
16.4%
Reserves YoY
+12.6%
GDP growth
6.0%
C/A balance
0.5%
Reserves YoY
+38.3%
GDP growth
5.0%
C/A balance
1.2%
Reserves YoY
+18.0%
GDP growth
2.9%
C/A balance
3.9%

Analysis

Sri Lanka 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

What is Sri Lanka's literacy rate?

Sri Lanka's literacy rate was 92.81% in 2025. Ranked 32nd globally. This represents a 0.2% increase from the previous year.

What was the highest literacy rate in Sri Lanka?

Sri Lanka's literacy rate peaked at 92.81% in 2025.

What was the lowest literacy rate in Sri Lanka?

The lowest literacy rate in Sri Lanka was 86.78% in 1981.

How does Sri Lanka rank in literacy rate?

Sri Lanka ranks 32nd globally in literacy rate as of 2025.

What is the World Bank indicator code for literacy rate?

The World Bank indicator code is SE.ADT.LITR.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.

What is the projected literacy rate of Sri Lanka in 2025?

Sri Lanka's literacy rate is projected to reach 92.81% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.

What is the literacy rate of Sri Lanka in 2025?

The literacy rate of Sri Lanka in 2025 was 92.81%. This ranks 32nd in the world.

Cite this page

APA
Sri Lanka Literacy Rate. HistorySaid. Retrieved April 1, 2026, from https://historysaid.com/sri-lanka/literacy-rate
BibTeX
@misc{historysaid_sri-lanka_literacy-rate, title = {Sri Lanka Literacy Rate}, url = {https://historysaid.com/sri-lanka/literacy-rate}, publisher = {HistorySaid}, year = {2026} }