Adult literacy rate in Italy
99.3% of adults in Italy could read and write in 2019.
The latest value for Italy is for 2019. Most countries have figures for 2022.
Italy, 2019
99.3%
Change from 2011
+0.5percentage points
World, 2019
86.8%
Adult literacy rate in Italy over time
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Italy
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 | Italy | World |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | – | 87.7% |
| 2023 | – | 87.6% |
| 2022 | – | 87.4% |
| 2021 | – | 87.2% |
| 2020 | – | 87.0% |
| 2019 | 99.3% | 86.8% |
| 2018 | – | 86.8% |
| 2017 | – | 86.5% |
| 2016 | – | 86.3% |
| 2015 | – | 86.0% |
| 2014 | – | 85.6% |
| 2013 | – | 85.2% |
| 2012 | – | 84.9% |
| 2011 | 98.8% | 84.7% |
| 2010 | – | 84.4% |
| 2009 | – | 83.8% |
| 2008 | – | 83.5% |
| 2007 | – | 83.1% |
| 2006 | – | 82.5% |
| 2005 | – | 82.6% |
| 2004 | – | 82.6% |
| 2003 | – | 82.2% |
| 2002 | – | 81.7% |
| 2001 | 98.4% | 81.4% |
| 2000 | – | 81.1% |
A dash means no value was published for that period.
In short
- The previous available figure was 98.8% in 2011, a change of +0.5 percentage points.
- Since 1981, when it was 96.5%, the figure has changed by +2.9 percentage points.
- The figure for the world in 2019 was 86.8%.
More for Italy
All statistics for Italy
Primary school enrolment (gross)
103.6%
2023 · World Bank
NEET rate, ages 15 to 29
13.3%
2025 · Eurostat
Tertiary education attainment, ages 25 to 34
31.1%
2025 · Eurostat
Early leavers from education and training
8.2%
2025 · Eurostat
Adult participation in learning
10.8%
2025 · Eurostat
ILO estimate of the youth NEET rate
12.1%
2025 · ILOSTAT