Adult literacy rate in Philippines
98.5% of adults in Philippines could read and write in 2020. The value for 2020 is the highest in the series, which starts in 1980.
The latest value for Philippines is for 2020. Most countries have figures for 2022.
Philippines, 2020
98.5%
Change from 2019
+2.2percentage points
World, 2020
87.0%
Adult literacy rate in Philippines over time
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Philippines
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 | Philippines | World |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | – | 87.7% |
| 2023 | – | 87.6% |
| 2022 | – | 87.4% |
| 2021 | – | 87.2% |
| 2020 | 98.5% | 87.0% |
| 2019 | 96.3% | 86.8% |
| 2018 | – | 86.8% |
| 2017 | – | 86.5% |
| 2016 | – | 86.3% |
| 2015 | 98.2% | 86.0% |
| 2014 | – | 85.6% |
| 2013 | 96.4% | 85.2% |
| 2012 | – | 84.9% |
| 2011 | – | 84.7% |
| 2010 | 97.1% | 84.4% |
| 2009 | – | 83.8% |
| 2008 | 95.4% | 83.5% |
| 2007 | – | 83.1% |
| 2006 | – | 82.5% |
| 2005 | – | 82.6% |
| 2004 | – | 82.6% |
| 2003 | 92.6% | 82.2% |
| 2002 | – | 81.7% |
| 2001 | – | 81.4% |
| 2000 | 92.6% | 81.1% |
A dash means no value was published for that period.
In short
- That is a change of +2.2 percentage points from 96.3% in 2019.
- Since 1980, when it was 83.3%, the figure has changed by +15.2 percentage points.
- The figure for the world in 2020 was 87.0%.
More for Philippines
All statistics for Philippines
Primary school enrolment (gross)
94.0%
2024 · World Bank
ILO estimate of the youth NEET rate
12.7%
2025 · ILOSTAT
Primary completion (UIS)
95.8%
2022 · UNESCO UIS
Lower secondary completion
84.2%
2022 · UNESCO UIS
Upper secondary completion
67.0%
2022 · UNESCO UIS
Out-of-school children
11.6%
2024 · UNESCO UIS