Definition: This entry includes a definition of literacy and Census Bureau percentages for the total population, males, and females. There are no universal definitions and standards of literacy. Unless otherwise specified, all rates are based on the most common definition - the ability to read and write at a specified age. Detailing the standards that individual countries use to assess the ability to read and write is beyond the scope of the Factbook. Information on literacy, while not a perfect measure of educational results, is probably the most easily available and valid for international comparisons. Low levels of literacy, and education in general, can impede the economic development of a country in the current rapidly changing, technology-driven world.
Source: CIA World Factbook - Unless otherwise noted, information in this page is accurate as of January 1, 2012
See also: Literacy mapRelated News
Improving women's financial literacy, worldwide
Minuteman News Center - 5/20/2013 6:01:06 PM
These are just some of the complex issues raised at the seventh annual Financial Literacy and Education Summit hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and Visa Inc. Renowned U.S. and international financial experts and journalists led a ...
Literacy and Pakistan
DAWN Group - 5/22/2013 5:27:06 AM
In spite of the rows of educational plans, policies, conferences and five-year plans, our literacy rate could not increase much. Pakistan ranks at 113th position among 120 countries of the world. This is an international embarrassment.
WORLD LITERACY DAY: Is education for all feasible by 2015?
Vanguard - 9/6/2012 1:50:32 AM
Of the world’s 800 million adults who lack the basic learning tools to make informed decisions and participate fully in the development of their societies, nearly 70 per cent live in E9 countries. Tackling the literacy gap is both a moral and development ...
Literacy in the Middle East and North Africa
Council on Foreign Relations - 5/6/2013 5:56:14 PM
As the 2002 Arab Human Development Report noted, adult literacy in the Arab world is shamefully low–and lower than the average in developing countries. However, countries are making efforts to tackle their literacy challenges. The above graph shows ...
Tripura to emerge as fully literate state by September
articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com - 4/12/2013 3:47:12 PM
AGARTALA: Tripura will emerge as a total literate state in the country before World Literacy Day on September 8, a minister said today. A meeting of the State Literacy Mission Authority presided by Chief Minister Manik Sarkar reviewed the status ...
Better World Books to Provide $45,000 in LEAP Grants for Libraries and Non-Profits
San Francisco Gate - 2/28/2013 10:00:20 PM
Social business pioneer to fund projects addressing literacy needs of communities across the country. Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) February 28, 2013 Better World Books, the socially responsible online bookseller, today announces their third-annual Literacy and ...
Improving women's financial literacy
Daily Comet - 5/18/2013 1:35:38 AM
According to South African financial journalist Maya Fischer-French, among the biggest financial hurdles an overwhelming number of women in her country face is their status as single ... to only 13,000 in the branch network,” said Yaseen Anwar, governor ...
America’s women face unique financial literacy needs
FOX News - 5/16/2013 11:56:36 PM
Overall, American women are among the most financially literate in the world ... that by making financial literacy a national priority and working together, we can make America a more financially literate country – for both or women and ...
National Literacy Strategy launched for All Framework
gozonews.com - 5/18/2013 4:51:53 PM
“This will be implemented also in the light of recent results obtained by Malta in the Programme for International Assessment (PISA) 2010 where the percentage (36.3) of 15 year-olds who were low achievers in reading literacy was significantly higher than ...
Higher One Opens Financial Literacy Counts Grant Program to Colleges and Universities Nationwide, Recognizes Financial Literacy Month
WorldNetDaily - 5/16/2013 11:56:36 PM
Higher One, a leader in providing services to higher education administrators and students at more than 1,300 campuses across the U.S., has opened the application process for its third annual Financial Literacy Counts grant program, which supports ...
Popular movies help children improve literacy
HealthCanal - 5/19/2013 9:29:52 PM
The idea of same language subtitling to enhance literacy skills in mainstream classrooms is new ... neighbourhood often featured negatively in the statistics in terms of health issues, crime statistics and general deprivation. "The majority of the ...
Statistics department conducting literacy and integrity surveys
mmail.com.my - 5/20/2013 11:59:01 PM
The surveys aim to gauge the effectiveness of the education system and indicator of the country's level of development. "The results of these surveys will be compared with the world literacy community. The information gathered from respondents include ...
UNH Professor Publishes Book on Pioneering Literacy Work of Donald Graves
Newswise - 5/20/2013 1:57:43 PM
Newswise — DURHAM, N.H. – Up until Donald Graves’ pioneering work on literacy, the idea that young children should think of themselves as writers, much less even be able to write, was unheard of. That changed in 1983 when the University of New ...
Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy Selects Republica as Agency of Record
The Wall Street Journal - 5/20/2013 7:34:09 PM
In 2012, Republica was honored with four Telly awards, 17 Addy awards, a PRSA Silver Anvil and an Anvil Award of Excellence, reflecting its leading work for some of the ... family literacy and reading mentoring programs across the country ...
Lions Clubs International Multiple District 301 Philippines: Leading the way to literacy in a World of service
Yahoo! - 5/18/2013 7:29:22 PM
Founded in 1917 by businessman Melvin Jones of Chicago, Illinois, United States of America, Lions Clubs International is considered the world's largest service club organization with a membership of 1.35 million Lions in 207 countries and geographic areas.
