Türkiye Literacy Rate
Adult literacy rate SE.ADT.LITR.ZS
Türkiye's literacy rate was 97.26% in 2021, ranked 10th globally. This represents a 0.5% increase from 2020. Data from World Bank, covering 1975–2021.
Overview
Türkiye's literacy rate stood at 97.26% in 2021, a rise of +0.52pp from 2019. Türkiye ranked 10th globally.
Turkey’s literacy rate rose from a trough of 61.63 % in 1975 to an all‑time peak of 97.26 % in 2021, placing the country tenth worldwide according to the World Bank. The 35‑year expansion reflects sustained investment in universal primary education, the extension of secondary schooling, and adult literacy programmes that together lifted more than three‑quarters of the adult population into functional reading and writing proficiency. By 2021 Turkey’s rate of 97.26 % narrowly trails Singapore’s 97.65 % and West Bank and Gaza’s 97.69 %, underscoring its position among the highest‑performing nations despite a later start than those peers. The 19‑year coverage window captures the period after the 2000s reforms that accelerated school enrolment and reduced gender gaps, contributing to the steady climb. Continued emphasis on digital literacy and lifelong learning will be crucial to maintain the upward trajectory, as emerging technologies and demographic shifts could otherwise slow progress.
Data & projection
| Year | Literacy Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 97.26% | +0.52pp | #10 |
| 2019 | 96.74% | +0.59pp | #16 |
| 2017 | 96.15% | +0.29pp | #10 |
| 2016 | 95.86% | +0.26pp | #14 |
| 2015 | 95.60% | +0.16pp | #11 |
| 2014 | 95.44% | +0.18pp | #11 |
| 2013 | 95.26% | +0.34pp | #13 |
| 2012 | 94.92% | +0.81pp | #11 |
| 2011 | 94.11% | +1.45pp | #27 |
| 2010 | 92.66% | +1.84pp | #22 |
| 2009 | 90.82% | +2.16pp | #20 |
| 2007 | 88.66% | +0.54pp | #19 |
| 2006 | 88.12% | −0.11pp | #14 |
| 2005 | 88.23% | +0.86pp | #9 |
| 2004 | 87.37% | +8.14pp | #10 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Türkiye matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2020. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw literacy rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Türkiye's literacy rate was 97.26% in 2021. Ranked 10th globally. This represents a 0.5% increase from the previous year.
Türkiye's literacy rate peaked at 97.26% in 2021.
The lowest literacy rate in Türkiye was 61.63% in 1975.
Türkiye ranks 10th 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 Türkiye in 2021 was 97.26%. This ranks 10th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_turkiye_literacy-rate,
title = {Türkiye Literacy Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/turkiye/literacy-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}