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Statistics · Country
Literacy rate in Philippines
1980 – 2020 · 11 data points
3 of 13 · Countries
Updated Oct 21, 2026
Source: World Bank — World Development Indicators, 1980 – 2020
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Latest value · 2020
98.5%
+2.2 pp
since 2019
Countries · 2020
3 of 13
Place 1 is the highest value.
since 2010
+1.4 pp
vs World
+10.7 pp
World: 87.7% · 2024
Literacy rate, 1980 – 2020 percent · Philippines · World
+1.4 pp since 2010
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
1980
2000
2024
Philippines
World
Source: World Bank — World Development Indicators, 1980 – 2020
Compared with Literacy rate · percent
Philippines
98.5%
World
87.7% · 2024
Source: World Bank — World Development Indicators
The series at a glance Philippines · 1980 – 2020
Latest value
98.5% · 2020
First value
83.3% · 1980
Highest
98.5% · 2020
Lowest
83.3% · 1980
Data points
11
By year
All years · 1980 – 2020
| Year | Philippines | Change | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 98.5% | +2.2 pp | 87.0% |
| 2019 | 96.3% | −1.9 pp | 86.8% |
| 2015 | 98.2% | +1.8 pp | 86.0% |
| 2013 | 96.4% | −0.7 pp | 85.2% |
| 2010 | 97.1% | +1.7 pp | 84.4% |
| 2008 | 95.4% | +2.8 pp | 83.5% |
| 2003 | 92.6% | −0.0 pp | 82.2% |
| 2000 | 92.6% | −1.3 pp | 81.1% |
| 1994 | 93.9% | +0.3 pp | 76.4% |
| 1990 | 93.6% | +10.2 pp | 74.6% |
| 1980 | 83.3% | 67.8% |
Source: World Bank — World Development Indicators, 1980 – 2020
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
Philippines in numbers