This chart presents youth literacy rates and the difference with elderly literacy rates by region and sex in 2016, reflecting approximately 50 years of generational progress in reading and writing skills.
About: Youth Literacy Rate and 50-Year Progress by Region and Sex (2016)
Overview of the data behind this chart
This chart presents youth literacy rates and the difference with elderly literacy rates by region and sex in 2016, reflecting approximately 50 years of generational progress in reading and writing skills.
AI Insight
Women have made substantially greater literacy gains than men over the past 50 years across almost every region. Globally, young women improved their literacy rate by 17 percentage points relative to elderly women, compared to just 9 points for men. The most striking female progress occurred in Southern Asia, where young women are nearly 59 percentage points more literate than elderly women, compared to a 34-point gain for men. Sub-Saharan Africa and Northern Africa and Western Asia show similarly large female gains of 46 and 44 points respectively. In Central Asia and Europe and Northern America, near-universal literacy already existed among elderly women, leaving little room for improvement. These trends reflect decades of expanded girls' education globally, though gender gaps persist in several developing regions.
Data source:
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Key Findings
Auto-computed highlights from this dataset
🏆
Central Asia - Both Sexes (Youth Rate) leads with 100 in 2016.
📊
Average value in 2016: 57 · median: 65.
↔️
Gap in 2016: Central Asia - Both Sexes (Youth Rate) is 166.5× larger than Central Asia - Men (Gain vs Elderly).
Chart Controls Customize your visualization
Bar
H-bar
Line
Area
Table
Youth Literacy Rate and 50-Year Progress by Region and Sex (2016)
Data Insights
Numbers, trends & sources behind this chart⬡
Data Points
48
48 categories
·
1 year
↑
Top Value
99.90
Central Asia - Both Sexes (Youth Rate)
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points) · 2016
◈
Metrics
1
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
◷
Period
2016
Single year snapshot
Category Rankings
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points) · 2016| # | Category | 2016 |
|---|---|---|
| 🥇 | Central Asia - Both Sexes (Youth Rate) | 99.90 |
| 🥈 | Central Asia - Men (Youth Rate) | 99.90 |
| 🥉 | Central Asia - Women (Youth Rate) | 99.90 |
| 4 | Europe and Northern America - Both Sexes (Youth Rate) | 99.70 |
| 5 | Europe and Northern America - Men (Youth Rate) | 99.70 |
| 6 | Europe and Northern America - Women (Youth Rate) | 99.70 |
| 7 | Eastern and South-Eastern Asia - Both Sexes (Youth Rate) | 98.80 |
| 8 | Eastern and South-Eastern Asia - Men (Youth Rate) | 98.80 |
| 9 | Eastern and South-Eastern Asia - Women (Youth Rate) | 98.80 |
| 10 | Latin America and the Caribbean - Women (Youth Rate) | 98.60 |
| 11 | Latin America and the Caribbean - Both Sexes (Youth Rate) | 98.40 |
| 12 | Latin America and the Caribbean - Men (Youth Rate) | 98.20 |
| 13 | World - Men (Youth Rate) | 92.80 |
| 14 | Northern Africa and Western Asia - Men (Youth Rate) | 91.50 |
| 15 | World - Both Sexes (Youth Rate) | 91.40 |
| 16 | Southern Asia - Men (Youth Rate) | 90.70 |
| 17 | World - Women (Youth Rate) | 89.90 |
| 18 | Northern Africa and Western Asia - Both Sexes (Youth Rate) | 89.60 |
| 19 | Southern Asia - Both Sexes (Youth Rate) | 88.60 |
| 20 | Northern Africa and Western Asia - Women (Youth Rate) | 87.60 |
| 21 | Southern Asia - Women (Youth Rate) | 86.30 |
| 22 | Sub-Saharan Africa - Men (Youth Rate) | 79.20 |
| 23 | Sub-Saharan Africa - Both Sexes (Youth Rate) | 75.40 |
| 24 | Sub-Saharan Africa - Women (Youth Rate) | 71.60 |
| 25 | Southern Asia - Women (Gain vs Elderly) | 59 |
| 26 | Southern Asia - Both Sexes (Gain vs Elderly) | 47.10 |
| 27 | Sub-Saharan Africa - Women (Gain vs Elderly) | 45.80 |
| 28 | Northern Africa and Western Asia - Women (Gain vs Elderly) | 44.40 |
| 29 | Sub-Saharan Africa - Both Sexes (Gain vs Elderly) | 39.10 |
| 30 | Northern Africa and Western Asia - Both Sexes (Gain vs Elderly) | 36.20 |
| 31 | Southern Asia - Men (Gain vs Elderly) | 34.10 |
| 32 | Sub-Saharan Africa - Men (Gain vs Elderly) | 30 |
| 33 | Northern Africa and Western Asia - Men (Gain vs Elderly) | 25.70 |
| 34 | Latin America and the Caribbean - Women (Gain vs Elderly) | 21.10 |
| 35 | Eastern and South-Eastern Asia - Women (Gain vs Elderly) | 20.50 |
| 36 | Latin America and the Caribbean - Both Sexes (Gain vs Elderly) | 18.90 |
| 37 | World - Women (Gain vs Elderly) | 17.30 |
| 38 | Latin America and the Caribbean - Men (Gain vs Elderly) | 16.20 |
| 39 | Eastern and South-Eastern Asia - Both Sexes (Gain vs Elderly) | 14.50 |
| 40 | World - Both Sexes (Gain vs Elderly) | 13.80 |
| 41 | World - Men (Gain vs Elderly) | 9.30 |
| 42 | Eastern and South-Eastern Asia - Men (Gain vs Elderly) | 7.40 |
| 43 | Europe and Northern America - Women (Gain vs Elderly) | 2.20 |
| 44 | Europe and Northern America - Both Sexes (Gain vs Elderly) | 1.90 |
| 45 | Europe and Northern America - Men (Gain vs Elderly) | 1.40 |
| 46 | Central Asia - Women (Gain vs Elderly) | 1.40 |
| 47 | Central Asia - Both Sexes (Gain vs Elderly) | 1.10 |
| 48 | Central Asia - Men (Gain vs Elderly) | 0.60 |
Statistical Summary
— Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points) · 2016
99.90
Maximum
0.60
Minimum
57
Average
65
Median
What This Data Shows
Auto-generated trend summaries per category
→
Sub-Saharan Africa - Both Sexes (Youth Rate)
Recorded 75.40
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Sub-Saharan Africa - Men (Youth Rate)
Recorded 79.20
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Sub-Saharan Africa - Women (Youth Rate)
Recorded 71.60
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Sub-Saharan Africa - Both Sexes (Gain vs Elderly)
Recorded 39.10
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Sub-Saharan Africa - Men (Gain vs Elderly)
Recorded 30
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Sub-Saharan Africa - Women (Gain vs Elderly)
Recorded 45.80
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Southern Asia - Both Sexes (Youth Rate)
Recorded 88.60
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Southern Asia - Men (Youth Rate)
Recorded 90.70
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Southern Asia - Women (Youth Rate)
Recorded 86.30
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Southern Asia - Both Sexes (Gain vs Elderly)
Recorded 47.10
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Southern Asia - Men (Gain vs Elderly)
Recorded 34.10
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Southern Asia - Women (Gain vs Elderly)
Recorded 59
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Northern Africa and Western Asia - Both Sexes (Youth Rate)
Recorded 89.60
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Northern Africa and Western Asia - Men (Youth Rate)
Recorded 91.50
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Northern Africa and Western Asia - Women (Youth Rate)
Recorded 87.60
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Northern Africa and Western Asia - Both Sexes (Gain vs Elderly)
Recorded 36.20
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Northern Africa and Western Asia - Men (Gain vs Elderly)
Recorded 25.70
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Northern Africa and Western Asia - Women (Gain vs Elderly)
Recorded 44.40
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Latin America and the Caribbean - Both Sexes (Youth Rate)
Recorded 98.40
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Latin America and the Caribbean - Men (Youth Rate)
Recorded 98.20
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Latin America and the Caribbean - Women (Youth Rate)
Recorded 98.60
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Latin America and the Caribbean - Both Sexes (Gain vs Elderly)
Recorded 18.90
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Latin America and the Caribbean - Men (Gain vs Elderly)
Recorded 16.20
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Latin America and the Caribbean - Women (Gain vs Elderly)
Recorded 21.10
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Eastern and South-Eastern Asia - Both Sexes (Youth Rate)
Recorded 98.80
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Eastern and South-Eastern Asia - Men (Youth Rate)
Recorded 98.80
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Eastern and South-Eastern Asia - Women (Youth Rate)
Recorded 98.80
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Eastern and South-Eastern Asia - Both Sexes (Gain vs Elderly)
Recorded 14.50
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Eastern and South-Eastern Asia - Men (Gain vs Elderly)
Recorded 7.40
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Eastern and South-Eastern Asia - Women (Gain vs Elderly)
Recorded 20.50
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Europe and Northern America - Both Sexes (Youth Rate)
Recorded 99.70
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Europe and Northern America - Men (Youth Rate)
Recorded 99.70
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Europe and Northern America - Women (Youth Rate)
Recorded 99.70
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Europe and Northern America - Both Sexes (Gain vs Elderly)
Recorded 1.90
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Europe and Northern America - Men (Gain vs Elderly)
Recorded 1.40
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Europe and Northern America - Women (Gain vs Elderly)
Recorded 2.20
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Central Asia - Both Sexes (Youth Rate)
Recorded 99.90
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Central Asia - Men (Youth Rate)
Recorded 99.90
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Central Asia - Women (Youth Rate)
Recorded 99.90
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Central Asia - Both Sexes (Gain vs Elderly)
Recorded 1.10
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Central Asia - Men (Gain vs Elderly)
Recorded 0.60
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
Central Asia - Women (Gain vs Elderly)
Recorded 1.40
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
World - Both Sexes (Youth Rate)
Recorded 91.40
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
World - Men (Youth Rate)
Recorded 92.80
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
World - Women (Youth Rate)
Recorded 89.90
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
World - Both Sexes (Gain vs Elderly)
Recorded 13.80
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
World - Men (Gain vs Elderly)
Recorded 9.30
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
→
World - Women (Gain vs Elderly)
Recorded 17.30
Youth Literacy Rate (%) and Gain vs Elderly Rate (percentage points)
in 2016.
Full Data Table
48 records across 1 yearData Sources & References
All external sources cited in this datasetRelated Charts
Youth vs Elderly Literacy Rate by Region (2016) Related Chart
Bar
H-bar
Line
Area
Table
Adult Literacy Rate Progress by Region: 1990 vs 2016 Related Chart
Bar
H-bar
Line
Area
Table
Share of Global Illiterate Population Living in Each Region (2016) Related Chart
Bar
H-bar
Line
Area
Table
🎨 Create Your Own Charts!
Transform your data into beautiful, interactive visualizations. No account required - start creating stunning charts in seconds!