Sri Lanka Literacy Rate
Adult literacy rate SE.ADT.LITR.ZS
Sri Lanka's literacy rate was 92.81% in 2025, ranked 32nd globally. This represents a 0.2% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 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.
Sri Lanka's literacy rate has experienced a steady upward trend since 1981, when the indicator stood at 86.78%. The most recent data available indicates that the literacy rate has reached an all-time high of 92.81% in 2025. This achievement is notable, especially when compared to peer countries such as Cabo Verde, where the literacy rate is 93.22%, and South Africa, where it stands at 90.57%. Sri Lanka's success in improving literacy rates is a testament to the country's efforts in education, particularly in the past few decades. The rate of improvement has been consistent, with a 6.03 percentage point increase over the 16-year period. However, a significant factor in maintaining this momentum would be the government's ability to address regional disparities in education, which could potentially hinder further progress.
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 |
Detected Pattern
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
Sri Lanka's literacy rate was 92.81% in 2025. Ranked 32nd globally. This represents a 0.2% increase from the previous year.
Sri Lanka's literacy rate peaked at 92.81% in 2025.
The lowest literacy rate in Sri Lanka was 86.78% in 1981.
Sri Lanka ranks 32nd globally in literacy rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.ADT.LITR.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Sri Lanka's literacy rate is projected to reach 92.81% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The literacy rate of Sri Lanka in 2025 was 92.81%. This ranks 32nd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_sri-lanka_literacy-rate,
title = {Sri Lanka Literacy Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/sri-lanka/literacy-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}