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Sri Lanka: Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above)

In , Sri Lanka's Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) was 92.74.

That's up 0.1% from 2023, the highest value on record.

The global average for this indicator in 2024 was 89.47 . Sri Lanka ranks #18 globally out of 29 reporting countries. Within South Asia, it ranks #1 of 2.

Source: World Bank Open Data (SE.ADT.LITR.ZS) • Data as of 2024

Trend (2006–2024)

Sri Lanka Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) trend

Highlights

Peak
92.74
Trough
90.56
1-year change
+0.1%
5-year change
+0.5%
+0.1% / yr
10-year change
+0.2%
+0.0% / yr

Historical Data — Last 10 Years

Year Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above)
92.7400
92.6600
92.4900
92.4300
92.3800
92.2500
91.7100
91.9000
92.3900
92.5538

About Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above)

Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.

Indicator code: SE.ADT.LITR.ZSCategory: Education

Frequently asked questions

What was Sri Lanka's Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) in 2024?
In 2024, Sri Lanka's Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) was 92.74, according to World Bank Open Data.
Is Sri Lanka's Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) rising or falling?
Sri Lanka's Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) rose 0.1% from 2023 to 2024.
How does Sri Lanka rank globally on Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above)?
In 2024, Sri Lanka ranked #18 out of 29 countries reporting Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above).
How does Sri Lanka's Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) compare to the world average?
The global average for Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) in 2024 was 89.47, so Sri Lanka is above the world average. Within South Asia, it ranks #1 of 2.
What is Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) and how is it measured?
Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.
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Source: World Bank Open Data (SE.ADT.LITR.ZS), CC BY 4.0.