Adult literacy rate in Cambodia
71.9% of adults in Cambodia could read and write in 2021. The value for 2021 is the lowest since 1998.
Cambodia, 2021
71.9%
Change from 2020
−10.6percentage points
World, 2021
87.2%
Adult literacy rate in Cambodia over time
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Cambodia
World
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The chart loads when you scroll to it. The table below shows the same data.
The chart shows a calculation from the published values. The table below keeps the published values.
% of people aged 15 and above. Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Gaps mean no published value; points are not joined across missing years.
| Period | Cambodia | World |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | – | 87.7% |
| 2023 | – | 87.6% |
| 2022 | – | 87.4% |
| 2021 | 71.9% | 87.2% |
| 2020 | 82.6% | 87.0% |
| 2019 | 87.7% | 86.8% |
| 2018 | – | 86.8% |
| 2017 | – | 86.5% |
| 2016 | – | 86.3% |
| 2015 | 80.5% | 86.0% |
| 2014 | 78.1% | 85.6% |
| 2013 | 79.7% | 85.2% |
| 2012 | – | 84.9% |
| 2011 | – | 84.7% |
| 2010 | – | 84.4% |
| 2009 | 76.1% | 83.8% |
| 2008 | 76.9% | 83.5% |
| 2007 | – | 83.1% |
| 2006 | – | 82.5% |
| 2005 | – | 82.6% |
| 2004 | 73.6% | 82.6% |
| 2003 | – | 82.2% |
| 2002 | – | 81.7% |
| 2001 | – | 81.4% |
| 2000 | – | 81.1% |
A dash means no value was published for that period.
In short
- That is a change of −10.6 percentage points from 82.6% in 2020.
- Since 1998, when it was 67.3%, the figure has changed by +4.6 percentage points.
- The figure for the world in 2021 was 87.2%.
More for Cambodia
All statistics for Cambodia
Primary school enrolment (gross)
109.0%
2024 · World Bank
ILO estimate of the youth NEET rate
11.0%
2025 · ILOSTAT
Primary completion (UIS)
82.3%
2021 · UNESCO UIS
Lower secondary completion
56.0%
2021 · UNESCO UIS
Upper secondary completion
26.7%
2021 · UNESCO UIS
Out-of-school children
3.7%
2024 · UNESCO UIS