Afghanistan:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  31.5%

male:  47.2%

female:  15% (1999 est.)

Albania:

definition:  age 9 and over can read and write

total population:  93% (1997 est.)

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Algeria:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  61.6%

male:  73.9%

female:  49% (1995 est.)

American Samoa:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  97%

male:  98%

female:  97% (1980 est.)

Andorra:

definition:  NA

total population:  100%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Angola:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  42%

male:  56%

female:  28% (1998 est.)

Anguilla:

definition:  age 12 and over can read and write

total population:  95%

male:  95%

female:  95% (1984 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda:

definition:  age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling

total population:  89%

male:  90%

female:  88% (1960 est.)

Argentina:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  96.2%

male:  96.2%

female:  96.2% (1995 est.)

Armenia:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  99%

male:  99%

female:  98% (1989 est.)

Aruba:

definition:  NA

total population:  97%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Australia:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  100%

male:  100%

female:  100% (1980 est.)

Austria:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  98%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Azerbaijan:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  97%

male:  99%

female:  96% (1989 est.)

Bahamas, The:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  98.2%

male:  98.5%

female:  98% (1995 est.)

Bahrain:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  85.2%

male:  89.1%

female:  79.4% (1995 est.)

Bangladesh:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  56%

male:  63%

female:  49% (2000 est.)

Barbados:

definition:  age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population:  97.4%

male:  98%

female:  96.8% (1995 est.)

Belarus:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  98%

male:  99%

female:  97% (1989 est.)

Belgium:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  98%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Belize:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  70.3%

male:  70.3%

female:  70.3% (1991 est.)

note:  other sources list the literacy rate as high as 75%

Benin:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  37.5%

male:  52.2%

female:  23.6% (2000)

Bermuda:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  98%

male:  98%

female:  99% (1970 est.)

Bhutan:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  42.2%

male:  56.2%

female:  28.1% (1995 est.)

Bolivia:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  83.1%

male:  90.5%

female:  76% (1995 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina:

definition:  NA

total population:  NA%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Botswana:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  69.8%

male:  80.5%

female:  59.9% (1995 est.)

Brazil:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  83.3%

male:  83.3%

female:  83.2% (1995 est.)

British Virgin Islands:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  97.8% (1991 est.)

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Brunei:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  88.2%

male:  92.6%

female:  83.4% (1995 est.)

Bulgaria:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  98%

male:  99%

female:  98% (1999)

Burkina Faso:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  19.2%

male:  29.5%

female:  9.2% (1995 est.)

Burma:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  83.1%

male:  88.7%

female:  77.7% (1995 est.)

note:  these are official statistics; estimates of functional literacy are likely closer to 30% (1999 est.)

Burundi:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  35.3%

male:  49.3%

female:  22.5% (1995 est.)

Cambodia:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  35%

male:  48%

female:  22% (1990 est.)

Cameroon:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  63.4%

male:  75%

female:  52.1% (1995 est.)

Canada:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  97% (1986 est.)

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Cape Verde:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  71.6%

male:  81.4%

female:  63.8% (1995 est.)

Cayman Islands:

definition:  age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population:  98%

male:  98%

female:  98% (1970 est.)

Central African Republic:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  60%

male:  68.5%

female:  52.4% (1995 est.)

Chad:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic

total population:  48.1%

male:  62.1%

female:  34.7% (1995 est.)

Chile:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  95.2%

male:  95.4%

female:  95% (1995 est.)

China:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  81.5%

male:  89.9%

female:  72.7% (1995 est.)

Colombia:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  91.3%

male:  91.2%

female:  91.4% (1995 est.)

Comoros:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  57.3%

male:  64.2%

female:  50.4% (1995 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write French, Lingala, Kingwana, or Tshiluba

total population:  77.3%

male:  86.6%

female:  67.7% (1995 est.)

Congo, Republic of the:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  74.9%

male:  83.1%

female:  67.2% (1995 est.)

Cook Islands:

definition:  NA

total population:  95%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Costa Rica:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  94.8%

male:  94.7%

female:  95% (1995 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  48.5%

male:  57%

female:  40%

Croatia:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  97%

male:  99%

female:  95% (1991 est.)

Cuba:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  95.7%

male:  96.2%

female:  95.3% (1995 est.)

Cyprus:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  94%

male:  98%

female:  91% (1987 est.)

Czech Republic:

definition:  NA

total population:  99.9% (1999 est.)

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Denmark:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  100%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Djibouti:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  46.2%

male:  60.3%

female:  32.7% (1995 est.)

Dominica:

definition:  age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population:  94%

male:  94%

female:  94% (1970 est.)

Dominican Republic:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  82.1%

male:  82%

female:  82.2% (1995 est.)

Ecuador:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  90.1%

male:  92%

female:  88.2% (1995 est.)

Egypt:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  51.4%

male:  63.6%

female:  38.8% (1995 est.)

El Salvador:

definition:  age 10 and over can read and write

total population:  71.5%

male:  73.5%

female:  69.8% (1995 est.)

Equatorial Guinea:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  78.5%

male:  89.6%

female:  68.1% (1995 est.)

Eritrea:

definition:  NA

total population:  25%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Estonia:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  100%

male:  100%

female:  100% (1998 est.)

Ethiopia:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  35.5%

male:  45.5%

female:  25.3% (1995 est.)

Faroe Islands:

definition:  NA

total population:  NA%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

note:  similar to Denmark proper

Fiji:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  91.6%

male:  93.8%

female:  89.3% (1995 est.)

Finland:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  100% (1980 est.)

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

France:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  99%

male:  99%

female:  99% (1980 est.)

French Guiana:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  83%

male:  84%

female:  82% (1982 est.)

French Polynesia:

definition:  age 14 and over can read and write

total population:  98%

male:  98%

female:  98% (1977 est.)

Gabon:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  63.2%

male:  73.7%

female:  53.3% (1995 est.)

Gambia, The:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  47.5%

male:  58.4%

female:  37.1% (2001 est.)

Gaza Strip:

definition:  NA

total population:  NA%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Georgia:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  99%

male:  100%

female:  98% (1989 est.)

Germany:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  99% (1977 est.)

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Ghana:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  64.5%

male:  75.9%

female:  53.5% (1995 est.)

Gibraltar:

definition:  NA

total population:  above 80%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Greece:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  95%

male:  98%

female:  93% (1991 est.)

Greenland:

definition:  NA

total population:  NA%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

note:  similar to Denmark proper

Grenada:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  98%

male:  98%

female:  98% (1970 est.)

Guadeloupe:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  90%

male:  90%

female:  90% (1982 est.)

Guam:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  99%

male:  99%

female:  99% (1990 est.)

Guatemala:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  63.6%

male:  68.7%

female:  58.5% (2000 est.)

Guernsey:

definition:  NA

total population:  NA%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Guinea:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  35.9%

male:  49.9%

female:  21.9% (1995 est.)

Guinea-Bissau:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  53.9%

male:  67.1%

female:  40.7% (1997 est.)

Guyana:

definition:  age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population:  98.1%

male:  98.6%

female:  97.5% (1995 est.)

Haiti:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  45%

male:  48%

female:  42.2% (1995 est.)

Holy See (Vatican City):

definition:  NA

total population:  100%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Honduras:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  72.7%

male:  72.6%

female:  72.7% (1995 est.)

Hong Kong:

definition:  age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population:  92.2%

male:  96%

female:  88.2% (1996 est.)

Hungary:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  99%

male:  99%

female:  98% (1980 est.)

Iceland:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  99.9% (1997 est.)

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

India:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  52%

male:  65.5%

female:  37.7% (1995 est.)

Indonesia:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  83.8%

male:  89.6%

female:  78% (1995 est.)

Iran:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  72.1%

male:  78.4%

female:  65.8% (1994 est.)

Iraq:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  58%

male:  70.7%

female:  45% (1995 est.)

Ireland:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  98% (1981 est.)

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Israel:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  95%

male:  97%

female:  93% (1992 est.)

Italy:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  98% (1998)

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Jamaica:

definition:  age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population:  85%

male:  80.8%

female:  89.1% (1995 est.)

Japan:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  99% (1970 est.)

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Jersey:

definition:  NA

total population:  NA

male:  NA

female:  NA

Jordan:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  86.6%

male:  93.4%

female:  79.4% (1995 est.)

Kazakhstan:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  98%

male:  99%

female:  96% (1989 est.)

Kenya:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  78.1%

male:  86.3%

female:  70% (1995 est.)

Kiribati:

definition:  NA

total population:  NA%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Korea, North:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write Korean

total population:  99%

male:  99%

female:  99% (1990 est.)

Korea, South:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  98%

male:  99.3%

female:  96.7% (1995 est.)

Kuwait:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  78.6%

male:  82.2%

female:  74.9% (1995 est.)

Kyrgyzstan:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  97%

male:  99%

female:  96% (1989 est.)

Laos:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  57%

male:  70%

female:  44% (1999 est.)

Latvia:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  100%

male:  100%

female:  99% (1989 est.)

Lebanon:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  86.4%

male:  90.8%

female:  82.2% (1997 est.)

Lesotho:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  83%

male:  72%

female:  93% (1999 est.)

Liberia:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  38.3%

male:  53.9%

female:  22.4% (1995 est.)

note:  these figures are increasing because of the improving school system

Libya:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  76.2%

male:  87.9%

female:  63% (1995 est.)

Liechtenstein:

definition:  age 10 and over can read and write

total population:  100%

male:  100%

female:  100% (1981 est.)

Lithuania:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  98%

male:  99%

female:  98% (1989 est.)

Luxembourg:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  100%

male:  100%

female:  100% (2000 est.)

Macau:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  90%

male:  93%

female:  86% (1981 est.)

Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of:

definition:  NA

total population:  NA%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Madagascar:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  80%

male:  88%

female:  73% (1990 est.)

Malawi:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  58%

male:  72.8%

female:  43.4% (1999 est.)

Malaysia:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  83.5%

male:  89.1%

female:  78.1% (1995 est.)

Maldives:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  93.2%

male:  93.3%

female:  93% (1995 est.)

Mali:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  31%

male:  39.4%

female:  23.1% (1995 est.)

Malta:

definition:  age 10 and over can read and write

total population:  88.76%

male:  86.91%

female:  89.55% (1995 census)

Man, Isle of:

definition:  NA

total population:  NA%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Marshall Islands:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  93%

male:  100%

female:  88% (1980 est.)

Martinique:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  93%

male:  92%

female:  93% (1982 est.)

Mauritania:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  46.7%

male:  53.4%

female:  40% (1998 est.)

Mauritius:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  82.9%

male:  87.1%

female:  78.8% (1995 est.)

Mayotte:

definition:  NA

total population:  NA%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Mexico:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  89.6%

male:  91.8%

female:  87.4% (1995 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  89%

male:  91%

female:  88% (1980 est.)

Moldova:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  96%

male:  99%

female:  94% (1989 est.)

Monaco:

definition:  NA

total population:  99%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Mongolia:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  97%

male:  98%

female:  97.5% (2000)

Montserrat:

definition:  age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population:  97%

male:  97%

female:  97% (1970 est.)

Morocco:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  43.7%

male:  56.6%

female:  31% (1995 est.)

Mozambique:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  42.3%

male:  58.4%

female:  27% (1998 est.)

Namibia:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  38%

male:  45%

female:  31% (1960 est.)

Nauru:

definition:  NA

total population:  NA%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Nepal:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  27.5%

male:  40.9%

female:  14% (1995 est.)

Netherlands:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  99% (2000 est.)

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Netherlands Antilles:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  98%

male:  98%

female:  99% (1981 est.)

New Caledonia:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  91%

male:  92%

female:  90% (1976 est.)

New Zealand:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  99% (1980 est.)

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Nicaragua:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  65.7%

male:  64.6%

female:  66.6% (1995 est.)

Niger:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  13.6%

male:  20.9%

female:  6.6% (1995 est.)

Nigeria:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  57.1%

male:  67.3%

female:  47.3% (1995 est.)

Niue:

definition:  NA

total population:  95%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Northern Mariana Islands:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  97%

male:  97%

female:  96% (1980 est.)

Norway:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  100%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Oman:

definition:  NA

total population:  approaching 80%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Pakistan:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  42.7%

male:  55.3%

female:  29% (1998)

Palau:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  92%

male:  93%

female:  90% (1980 est.)

Panama:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  90.8%

male:  91.4%

female:  90.2% (1995 est.)

Papua New Guinea:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  72.2%

male:  81%

female:  62.7% (1995 est.)

Paraguay:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  92.1%

male:  93.5%

female:  90.6% (1995 est.)

Peru:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  88.7%

male:  94.5%

female:  83% (1995 est.)

Philippines:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  94.6%

male:  95%

female:  94.3% (1995 est.)

Poland:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  99%

male:  99%

female:  98% (1978 est.)

Portugal:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  87.4%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Puerto Rico:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  89%

male:  90%

female:  88% (1980 est.)

Qatar:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  79%

male:  79%

female:  80% (1995 est.)

Reunion:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  79%

male:  76%

female:  80% (1982 est.)

Romania:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  97%

male:  98%

female:  95% (1992 est.)

Russia:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  98%

male:  100%

female:  97% (1989 est.)

Rwanda:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  48%

male:  52%

female:  45% (1995 est.)

Saint Helena:

definition:  age 20 and over can read and write

total population:  97%

male:  97%

female:  98% (1987 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis:

definition:  age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population:  97%

male:  97%

female:  98% (1980 est.)

Saint Lucia:

definition:  age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population:  67%

male:  65%

female:  69% (1980 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  99%

male:  99%

female:  99% (1982 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:

definition:  age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population:  96%

male:  96%

female:  96% (1970 est.)

Samoa:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  97%

male:  97%

female:  97% (1971 est.)

San Marino:

definition:  age 10 and over can read and write

total population:  96%

male:  97%

female:  95% (1976 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  73%

male:  85%

female:  62% (1991 est.)

Saudi Arabia:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  62.8%

male:  71.5%

female:  50.2% (1995 est.)

Senegal:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  33.1%

male:  43%

female:  23.2% (1995 est.)

Seychelles:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  58%

male:  56%

female:  60% (1971 est.)

Sierra Leone:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic

total population:  31.4%

male:  45.4%

female:  18.2% (1995 est.)

Singapore:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  93.5%

male:  97%

female:  89.8% (1999)

Slovakia:

definition:  NA

total population:  NA%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Slovenia:

definition:  NA

total population:  99%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Solomon Islands:

definition:  NA

total population:  NA%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Somalia:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  24%

male:  36%

female:  14% (1990 est.)

South Africa:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  81.8%

male:  81.9%

female:  81.7% (1995 est.)

Spain:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  97%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Sri Lanka:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  90.2%

male:  93.4%

female:  87.2% (1995 est.)

Sudan:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  46.1%

male:  57.7%

female:  34.6% (1995 est.)

Suriname:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  93%

male:  95%

female:  91% (1995 est.)

Swaziland:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  76.7%

male:  78%

female:  75.6% (1995 est.)

Sweden:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  99% (1979 est.)

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Switzerland:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  99% (1980 est.)

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Syria:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  70.8%

male:  85.7%

female:  55.8% (1997 est.)

Tajikistan:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  98%

male:  99%

female:  97% (1989 est.)

Tanzania:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili (Swahili), English, or Arabic

total population:  67.8%

male:  79.4%

female:  56.8% (1995 est.)

Thailand:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  93.8%

male:  96%

female:  91.6% (1995 est.)

Togo:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  51.7%

male:  67%

female:  37% (1995 est.)

Tonga:

definition:  can read and write Tongan and/or English

total population:  98.5%

male:  98.4%

female:  98.7% (1996 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  97.9%

male:  98.8%

female:  97% (1995 est.)

Tunisia:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  66.7%

male:  78.6%

female:  54.6% (1995 est.)

Turkey:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  85%

male:  94%

female:  77% (2000)

Turkmenistan:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  98%

male:  99%

female:  97% (1989 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands:

definition:  age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population:  98%

male:  99%

female:  98% (1970 est.)

Tuvalu:

definition:  NA

total population:  NA%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Uganda:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  61.8%

male:  73.7%

female:  50.2% (1995 est.)

Ukraine:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  98%

male:  100%

female:  97% (1989 est.)

United Arab Emirates:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  79.2%

male:  78.9%

female:  79.8% (1995 est.)

United Kingdom:

definition:  age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling

total population:  99% (1978 est.)

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

United States:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  97%

male:  97%

female:  97% (1979 est.)

Uruguay:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  97.3%

male:  96.9%

female:  97.7% (1995 est.)

Uzbekistan:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  99%

male:  99%

female:  99% (yearend 1996)

Vanuatu:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  53%

male:  57%

female:  48% (1979 est.)

Venezuela:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  91.1%

male:  91.8%

female:  90.3% (1995 est.)

Vietnam:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  93.7%

male:  96.5%

female:  91.2% (1995 est.)

Virgin Islands:

definition:  NA

total population:  NA%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Wallis and Futuna:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  50%

male:  50%

female:  50% (1969 est.)

West Bank:

definition:  NA

total population:  NA%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Western Sahara:

definition:  NA

total population:  NA%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

Yemen:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  38%

male:  53%

female:  26% (1990 est.)

Yugoslavia:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  93%

male:  97.2%

female:  88.9% (1991)

Zambia:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write English

total population:  78.2%

male:  85.6%

female:  71.3% (1995 est.)

Zimbabwe:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write English

total population:  85%

male:  90%

female:  80% (1995 est.)

Taiwan:

definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  86% (1980 est.); note - literacy for the total population has reportedly increased to 94% (1998 est.)

male:  93% (1980 est.)

female:  79% (1980 est.)