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Statistics · Country
Literacy rate in Bangladesh
1981 – 2022 · 15 data points
7 of 8 · Countries
Updated Oct 22, 2026
Source: World Bank — World Development Indicators, 1981 – 2022
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Latest value · 2022
79.0%
+2.6 pp
since 2021
Countries · 2022
7 of 8
Place 1 is the highest value.
since 2012
+21.1 pp
vs World
−8.7 pp
World: 87.7% · 2024
Literacy rate, 1981 – 2022 percent · Bangladesh · World
+21.1 pp since 2012
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
1981
2000
2024
Bangladesh
World
Source: World Bank — World Development Indicators, 1981 – 2022
Compared with Literacy rate · percent
Bangladesh
79.0%
World
87.7% · 2024
Source: World Bank — World Development Indicators
The series at a glance Bangladesh · 1981 – 2022
Latest value
79.0% · 2022
First value
29.2% · 1981
Highest
79.0% · 2022
Lowest
29.2% · 1981
Data points
15
By year
All years · 1981 – 2022
| Year | Bangladesh | Change | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 79.0% | +2.6 pp | 87.4% |
| 2021 | 76.4% | +1.4 pp | 87.2% |
| 2020 | 74.9% | +0.2 pp | 87.0% |
| 2019 | 74.7% | +0.8 pp | 86.8% |
| 2018 | 73.9% | +1.0 pp | 86.8% |
| 2017 | 72.9% | +0.1 pp | 86.5% |
| 2016 | 72.8% | +7.6 pp | 86.3% |
| 2015 | 65.1% | +4.0 pp | 86.0% |
| 2014 | 61.1% | +0.1 pp | 85.6% |
| 2013 | 61.0% | +3.2 pp | 85.2% |
| 2012 | 57.9% | −0.9 pp | 84.9% |
| 2011 | 58.8% | +11.3 pp | 84.7% |
| 2001 | 47.5% | +12.2 pp | 81.4% |
| 1991 | 35.3% | +6.1 pp | 75.1% |
| 1981 | 29.2% | 68.3% |
Source: World Bank — World Development Indicators, 1981 – 2022
Ranking · Countries
2021 · Place 1 is the highest value.
| # | Territory | Literacy rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | India | 76.1% | |
| 11 | Bangladesh | 76.4% | |
| 10 | Egypt | 82.1% | |
| 9 | Gabon | 88.9% | |
| 8 | Ecuador | 94.5% | |
| 7 | Brazil | 94.8% | |
| 6 | Colombia | 95.7% | |
| 5 | Mexico | 95.7% | |
| 4 | Türkiye | 97.3% | |
| 3 | Romania | 99.2% | |
| 2 | Spain | 99.7% | |
| 1 | Russia | 99.9% |
Source: World Bank — World Development Indicators, 2021
What it means
The share of people aged 15 and over who can read and write.
How it is calculated
People aged 15+ able to read and write a simple note divided by all people aged 15+.
Education & commute
Bangladesh in numbers