Adult literacy rate in Portugal
94.5% of adults in Portugal could read and write in 2011.
The latest value for Portugal is for 2011. Most countries have figures for 2022.
Portugal, 2011
94.5%
Change from 1991
+6.5percentage points
World, 2011
84.7%
Median of European Union (27 countries), 2011
98.6%
Adult literacy rate in Portugal over time
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Portugal
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 | Portugal | World |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | – | 87.7% |
| 2023 | – | 87.6% |
| 2022 | – | 87.4% |
| 2021 | – | 87.2% |
| 2020 | – | 87.0% |
| 2019 | – | 86.8% |
| 2018 | – | 86.8% |
| 2017 | – | 86.5% |
| 2016 | – | 86.3% |
| 2015 | – | 86.0% |
| 2014 | – | 85.6% |
| 2013 | – | 85.2% |
| 2012 | – | 84.9% |
| 2011 | 94.5% | 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 | – | 81.4% |
| 2000 | – | 81.1% |
A dash means no value was published for that period.
In short
- The previous available figure was 87.9% in 1991, a change of +6.5 percentage points.
- Since 1981, when it was 79.4%, the figure has changed by +15.0 percentage points.
- The figure for the world in 2011 was 84.7%.
More for Portugal
All statistics for Portugal
Primary school enrolment (gross)
111.0%
2023 · World Bank
NEET rate, ages 15 to 29
8.0%
2025 · Eurostat
Tertiary education attainment, ages 25 to 34
42.5%
2025 · Eurostat
Early leavers from education and training
6.1%
2025 · Eurostat
Adult participation in learning
16.9%
2025 · Eurostat
ILO estimate of the youth NEET rate
7.8%
2025 · ILOSTAT