Adult literacy rate in Spain
99.7% of adults in Spain could read and write in 2021. The value for 2021 is the highest in the series, which starts in 1981.
Spain, 2021
99.7%
Change from 2020
+1.1percentage points
World, 2021
87.2%
Adult literacy rate in Spain over time
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Spain
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 | Spain | World |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | – | 87.7% |
| 2023 | – | 87.6% |
| 2022 | – | 87.4% |
| 2021 | 99.7% | 87.2% |
| 2020 | 98.6% | 87.0% |
| 2019 | – | 86.8% |
| 2018 | 98.4% | 86.8% |
| 2017 | – | 86.5% |
| 2016 | 98.3% | 86.3% |
| 2015 | 98.1% | 86.0% |
| 2014 | 98.1% | 85.6% |
| 2013 | 98.1% | 85.2% |
| 2012 | 97.9% | 84.9% |
| 2011 | 97.8% | 84.7% |
| 2010 | 97.8% | 84.4% |
| 2009 | 97.7% | 83.8% |
| 2008 | 97.6% | 83.5% |
| 2007 | 97.9% | 83.1% |
| 2006 | 97.8% | 82.5% |
| 2005 | 97.8% | 82.6% |
| 2004 | 97.2% | 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 +1.1 percentage points from 98.6% in 2020.
- Since 2009, when it was 97.7%, the figure has changed by +2.0 percentage points.
- The figure for the world in 2021 was 87.2%.
More for Spain
All statistics for Spain
Primary school enrolment (gross)
102.9%
2024 · World Bank
NEET rate, ages 15 to 29
11.5%d (Definition differs)
2025 · Eurostat
Tertiary education attainment, ages 25 to 34
52.5%
2025 · Eurostat
Early leavers from education and training
12.8%d (Definition differs)
2025 · Eurostat
Adult participation in learning
15.8%
2025 · Eurostat
ILO estimate of the youth NEET rate
10.2%
2025 · ILOSTAT