Vanuatu Literacy Rate
Adult literacy rate SE.ADT.LITR.ZS
Vanuatu's literacy rate was 94.15% in 2025, ranked 28th globally. This represents a 7.0% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1979–2025.
Overview
Vanuatu's literacy rate stood at 94.15% in 2025, a rise of +6.19pp from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 94.15% by 2025. Vanuatu ranked 28th globally.
Vanuatu’s literacy rate has risen dramatically from 52.87 % in 1979, the lowest point on record, to 94.15 % in 2025, its all‑time peak and the 28th‑highest level worldwide. This 41.28‑percentage‑point increase over 46 years reflects sustained investment in primary education, expanded school infrastructure, and adult‑learning programmes that have broadened access across the archipelago’s dispersed population. The 2025 figure places Vanuatu marginally below Mauritius (94.23 %) and the Dominican Republic (94.27 %) while edging ahead of Peru (93.81 %). The rapid ascent mirrors regional trends in the Pacific, where concerted policy reforms since the 1990s have lifted literacy outcomes. Continued progress will depend on maintaining funding for teacher training, integrating digital resources in remote schools, and addressing socioeconomic disparities that still limit full participation; these factors will shape whether Vanuatu can sustain its upward trajectory beyond the current peak.
Data & projection
| Year | Literacy Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 95.01% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 94.15% | - | - |
| 2025 | 94.15% | +6.19pp | #28 |
| 2023 | 87.96% | −1.87pp | #21 |
| 2020 | 89.83% | −2.92pp | #28 |
| 2019 | 92.75% | +18.75pp | #28 |
| 1999 | 74.00% | +21.13pp | #8 |
| 1979 | 52.87% | – | #3 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Vanuatu matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2019. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw literacy rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Vanuatu's literacy rate was 94.15% in 2025. Ranked 28th globally. This represents a 7.0% increase from the previous year.
Vanuatu's literacy rate peaked at 94.15% in 2025.
The lowest literacy rate in Vanuatu was 52.87% in 1979.
Vanuatu ranks 28th globally in literacy rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.ADT.LITR.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Vanuatu's literacy rate is projected to reach 94.15% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The literacy rate of Vanuatu in 2025 was 94.15%. This ranks 28th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_vanuatu_literacy-rate,
title = {Vanuatu Literacy Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/vanuatu/literacy-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}