Sri Lanka

Adult literacy in Sri Lanka

Adult literacy in Sri Lanka: 86.8% in 1981 and 92.7% in 2024, by UNESCO estimates.

Latest, 2024
92.7%
Since 1981
+6 percentage points
World, 2024
87.7%
Watch it change on the map

% of adults · UNESCO

Adult literacy in Sri LankaAdult literacy in Sri Lanka: 86.8% in 1981 and 92.7% in 2024, by UNESCO estimates. The world as a whole: 87.7% in 2024.
Estimates, UNESCOWorld

Every year

% of adults · UNESCO

YearSri LankaWorld
202492.787.7
202392.787.6
202292.587.4
202192.487.2
202092.487
201992.386.8
201891.786.8
201791.986.5
201692.486.3
201592.686
201492.585.6
2013–85.2
2012–84.9
2011–84.7
201091.284.4
2009–83.8
200890.683.5
2007–83.1
200690.882.5
2005–82.6
2004–82.6
2003–82.2
2002–81.7
200190.781.4
2000–81.1
1999–80.9
1998–80.5
1997–79.3
1996–77.3
1995–76.9
1994–76.4
1993–76
1992–75.5
1991–75.1
1990–74.6
1989–74.1
1988–73.6
1987–71.9
1986–71.3
1985–70.7
1984–70.2
1983–69.5
1982–68.9
198186.868.4
1980–67.8
1979–67.2
1978–66.5
1977–65.9
1976–65.6
1975–65.4

Good to know

  • The share of people aged 15 and over who can read and write a short, simple statement about their everyday life.
  • Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics, via the World Bank.
  • The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.

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