Being able to read and write is one of the most important requirements for social participation. According to the World Bank, approximately 87% of the world's population aged 15 and over had at least basic reading and writing skills in 2023. Accordingly, the worldwide illiteracy rate amounted to 13%. The data points to a significant gender gap: the illiteracy rate among women (16%) was significantly higher than among men (9%).
The right to education is one of the fundamental human rights (Article 26). According to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (Goal 4.6) the aim is to ensure that all young people and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy by 2030. Last update 01-04-2025.