Does the US rank 125th for literacy?

Yes, some reports cite the US ranking 125th for literacy, often based on older data or specific metrics showing a significant portion of adults below basic reading levels, though other sources place the US much higher (e.g., 36th or 51st) when looking at overall literacy rates (near 99%) or international testing of younger students. The discrepancy arises from how "literacy" is defined and measured, with lower rankings focusing on functional literacy (6th grade level or below) rather than just basic ability to read and write, highlighting a hidden crisis in reading proficiency.

Is the US 125th in literacy?

Various reports and assessments provide differing rankings for U.S. literacy, with one analysis placing the country as low as 125th globally, indicating a literacy rate of 86%. However, other studies suggest the U.S. ranks higher, landing at approximately 36th in international assessments.

Where does the US rank in literacy?

The U.S. literacy ranking varies by study but generally falls outside the top 10 globally, with some reports placing it around 36th globally for adult skills, despite near-universal basic literacy rates, because many adults read below a 6th-grade level. While 79% of U.S. adults have medium to high literacy, a significant portion struggles with complex texts, placing the nation lower in comparative assessments like PIAAC than countries like Japan or Finland.
 

What is the UK ranked in literacy?

The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said: Driving up literacy rates is central to our plan to grow the economy, one of my 5 key priorities, so it's great to see England move up to fourth in the international rankings for reading.

Where does the US rank in reading?

Some 620,000 students in 38 mostly industrialized countries and a total of 81 education systems, including four in China, participated in PISA in 2022. Of all education systems in OECD, The United States ranked 6th in reading, 10th in science, and 26th in math.

The American Literacy Crisis, Explained

Is the US literacy rate really 79%?

On average, 79% of U.S. adults nationwide are literate in 2024. 21% of adults in the US are illiterate in 2024. 54% of adults have a literacy below a 6th-grade level (20% are below 5th-grade level). Low levels of literacy costs the US up to 2.2 trillion per year.

What country is #1 in education?

There's no single "No. 1" country, as rankings vary by focus (e.g., higher ed, PISA scores), but the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany consistently rank top for overall education and research by sources like U.S. News & World Report, while countries like Finland, Singapore, and Japan often lead in student performance (PISA) and specific areas like STEM, highlighting different strengths in education systems globally. 

What is the literacy rate in the US compared to the UK?

Literacy Rates by Country

There are 37 countries with a literacy rate of higher than 99.0% The United States has a literacy rate of 99.0% along with other countries like Sweden, Australia, Germany, United Kingdom, Ireland, and France.

Which country ranks 1 in literacy rate?

Andorra is one such country with virtually 100% of its populace being literate. A part of Southwestern Europe, its government directs by law that every child between the ages of 6 and 16 is required to submit to compulsory attendance within its school systems.

What is China's literacy rate?

Between 2018-2021, the literacy rate was highest in the year 2021 and lowest in the year 2018. The literacy rate reached 99.83% in 2021. Between 2015 to 2021, the literacy rate of China grew by 0.106%. On a year-on-year basis, the literacy rate increased by 0.018% in 2021.

What country has a 99% literacy rate?

Many countries boast a 99% or near-100% literacy rate, including developed nations like Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, the UK, and the USA, alongside European countries such as Finland, Norway, and Ukraine, and former Soviet states like Uzbekistan and Belarus, indicating near-universal basic reading and writing skills in these regions. While some lists show countries like Andorra, Finland, or North Korea at 100%, many others consistently report 99% or higher, like Antigua and Barbuda, Croatia, and Israel. 

Are we more literate now than 100 years ago?

Over the course of the 19th century, global literacy more than doubled. And over the course of the 20th century the world achieved rapid progress in education. More than 4 out of 5 people are now able to read. Younger generations are better educated than ever before.

Which state is no. 1 in literacy?

As per data made available in 2025, Mizoram is the most literate state with 98.2% literacy and the least literate state in India is Andhra Pradesh with a literacy rate of 72.6%.

Where do the USA rank in world literacy?

The U.S. currently ranks 36th in global literacy rankings, with an estimated literacy rate of 79% as of 2024.

Is it true that 1/4 of Americans can't read above 5th grade level?

Approximately 45 million U.S. adults are functionally illiterate, reading below a fifth-grade level. 21% of U.S. adults are classified as functionally illiterate, unable to complete basic reading tasks. The average American reads at a 7th- to 8th-grade level.

What is the literacy rate in Europe?

Literacy rate, 2021:

The average for 2021 based on 11 countries was 98.77 percent. The highest value was in Latvia: 99.89 percent and the lowest value was in Malta: 94.94 percent.

Which country has a 100% literacy rate?

Andorra - The Nation With Highest Literacy Rate

The country boasts a 100% literacy rate, making it a global leader in literacy. This is credited to the commitment of Andorra to education; formal schooling is free and compulsory from ages 6 to 16.

Which is the top 10 educated country in the world?

Canada often tops lists for the most educated countries based on tertiary education attainment (ages 25-64), followed closely by Japan, South Korea, Ireland, and Luxembourg, with countries like the US, UK, Australia, Israel, and Sweden also consistently in the top 10, according to recent OECD data, showing high percentages of citizens with higher education degrees.
 

Which country has the lowest level of literacy?

International Literacy Day 2025: Top 7 countries with the lowest literacy levels in the world

1. Chad: 26.76%
2. Mali: 30.76% ...
3. South Sudan: 34.52% ...
4. Botswana: 36.75% ...
5. Afghanistan: 37.27% ...
6. Niger: 37.34% ...
7. Central African Republic: 37.49% ...

Where does the UK rank in literacy?

Primary school children in England have ranked fourth in the international rankings for reading. The latest results in the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study - known as Pirls - saw England's rank jump from eighth to enter the top five.

What is the literacy rate in Russia?

Literacy Rate in Russia Overview

The literacy rate reached 99.69% in 2021. Between 2010 to 2021, the literacy rate of Russia decreased by 0.02%.

How is the US education level compared to other countries?

Key Takeaways

America's education system ranks above that of many countries in literacy, mathematics and science achievement. However, it's far lower than one would expect considering the nation's standing in the world. Other developed countries' education systems are outperforming that of the United States.

Which country ranks lowest in education?

30 Least Educated Countries in the World

• Ethiopia. ...
• Sierra Leone. ...
• Liberia. ...
• Benin. ...
• Guinea. ...
• Somalia. Literacy Rate Among Population Aged 15 and Above: 41% ...
• Niger. Literacy Rate Among Population Aged 15 and Above: 38.1% ...
• Central African Republic. Literacy Rate Among Population Aged 15 and Above: 37.5%

Which country has the best education list?

• Switzerland. #1 in Best Countries Overall. ...
• Japan. #2 in Best Countries Overall. ...
• United States. #3 in Best Countries Overall. ...
• Canada. #4 in Best Countries Overall. ...
• Australia. #5 in Best Countries Overall. ...
• Sweden. #6 in Best Countries Overall. ...
• Germany. #7 in Best Countries Overall. ...
• United Kingdom. #8 in Best Countries Overall.

Is America a well-educated country?

The educational attainment of the U.S. population is similar to that of many other industrialized countries with the vast majority of the population having completed secondary education and a rising number of college graduates that outnumber high school dropouts.