Literacy-the ability to read and write-is arguably the single most important factor in determining a person’s career arc. For those who can read and write, the range of possible vocations is vast-even highly skilled, high-paying careers are within reach. As a whole, the global literacy rate is high.
The global literacy rate for all people aged 15 and above is 86.3%. The literacy rate for all males is 90.0%, and the rate for all females is 82.7%. However, massive country-to-country differences exist.
Understanding Literacy Rate Definitions
Data published by UNESCO uses the following definitions:
- Youth: Percentage of people aged 15 to 24 years who can both read and write, with understanding, a short simple statement on their everyday life. Generally, "literacy" also encompasses "numeracy", the ability to make simple arithmetic calculations.
- Adult: Percentage of the population aged 25 years and over who can both read and write, with understanding, a short simple statement on his/her everyday life. Generally, "literacy" also encompasses "numeracy", the ability to make simple arithmetic calculations.
- Elderly: Percentage of the population aged 65 years and over who can both read and write, with understanding, a short simple statement on their everyday life. Generally, "literacy" also encompasses "numeracy", the ability to make simple arithmetic calculations.
- Gender Parity Index (GPI): The gender parity index (GPI) of the youth literacy rate is the ratio of the female to male literacy rates of the population aged 15 to 24 years.
Global Literacy Disparities
Developed nations almost always have an adult literacy rate of 96% or better. In contrast, the least developed nations manage an average literacy rate of only 65%.
Direct country-to-country comparisons of literacy tend to be inexact. Poverty and illiteracy tend to go hand-in-hand. Education is often less available in poverty-stricken areas. Moreover, even when education is available, a struggling family might need their children to work and earn money instead of going to school.
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There is also a gender gap in literacy: Of the roughly 781 million adults worldwide who cannot read or write, nearly two-thirds are female. This disparity is particularly noticeable in less-developed countries, in which women are often expected to stay at home and care for the house and children while the men go off to work. The developed nations of the world have much higher literacy rates with smaller gaps-if any-between the genders.
Zambia: On the Cusp of a Promising Future
Table: Global Literacy Rates
| Category | Literacy Rate |
|---|---|
| Global (15+ years) | 86.3% |
| Males (15+ years) | 90.0% |
| Females (15+ years) | 82.7% |
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