Adult literacy rate in Nepal
68.7% of adults in Nepal could read and write in 2019. The value for 2019 is the highest in the series, which starts in 1981.
The latest value for Nepal is for 2019. Most countries have figures for 2022.
Nepal, 2019
68.7%
Change from 2017
+1.8percentage points
World, 2019
86.8%
Adult literacy rate in Nepal over time
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Nepal
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 | Nepal | World |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | – | 87.7% |
| 2023 | – | 87.6% |
| 2022 | – | 87.4% |
| 2021 | – | 87.2% |
| 2020 | – | 87.0% |
| 2019 | 68.7% | 86.8% |
| 2018 | – | 86.8% |
| 2017 | 66.9% | 86.5% |
| 2016 | 65.5% | 86.3% |
| 2015 | – | 86.0% |
| 2014 | – | 85.6% |
| 2013 | – | 85.2% |
| 2012 | – | 84.9% |
| 2011 | 59.6% | 84.7% |
| 2010 | – | 84.4% |
| 2009 | – | 83.8% |
| 2008 | 55.6% | 83.5% |
| 2007 | – | 83.1% |
| 2006 | – | 82.5% |
| 2005 | – | 82.6% |
| 2004 | – | 82.6% |
| 2003 | – | 82.2% |
| 2002 | – | 81.7% |
| 2001 | 48.6% | 81.4% |
| 2000 | – | 81.1% |
A dash means no value was published for that period.
In short
- The previous available figure was 66.9% in 2017, a change of +1.8 percentage points.
- Since 1981, when it was 20.6%, the figure has changed by +48.1 percentage points.
- The figure for the world in 2019 was 86.8%.
More for Nepal
All statistics for Nepal
Primary school enrolment (gross)
128.6%
2025 · World Bank
ILO estimate of the youth NEET rate
30.7%
2025 · ILOSTAT
Primary completion (UIS)
86.1%
2021 · UNESCO UIS
Lower secondary completion
77.7%
2021 · UNESCO UIS
Upper secondary completion
35.9%
2021 · UNESCO UIS
Out-of-school children
0.8%
2025 · UNESCO UIS