Adult Literacy Rate in Nepal
Nepal: Adult Literacy Rate was 71.15 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
71.15
Change on year
up 3.6%
World rank
86th
of 110 countries
All-time high
71.15
in 2021
All-time low
20.57
in 1981
Years of data
9
1981–2021
Adult Literacy Rate in Nepal, 1981–2021
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult literacy rate in Nepal is 71.15, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.6% on the previous year and up 19.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult literacy rate in Nepal peaked at 71.15 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 20.57, in 1981.
That places Nepal 86th out of 110 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Adult Literacy Rate in Nepal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 20.57 | — |
| 1991 | 32.98 | +60.3% |
| 2001 | 48.61 | +47.4% |
| 2008 | 55.56 | +14.3% |
| 2011 | 59.63 | +7.3% |
| 2016 | 65.5 | +9.8% |
| 2017 | 66.87 | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 68.71 | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 71.15 | +3.6% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 71.15 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 78.21, 91% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 71.15 is below the median for South Asia, which is 79, 90% of the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 20.57 | 20.57 | 20.57 | 1 |
| 1990s | 32.98 | 32.98 | 32.98 | 1 |
| 2000s | 52.09 | 48.61 | 55.56 | 2 |
| 2010s | 65.18 | 59.63 | 68.71 | 4 |
| 2020s | 71.15 | 71.15 | 71.15 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More gender data for Nepal
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 7,927 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.7039 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 22,583 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 22,583 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.5 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 264,089 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 273,367 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 265,882 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 274,092 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 268,570 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult literacy rate in Nepal?
- Adult literacy rate in Nepal was 71.15 in 2021, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest adult literacy rate recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 71.15 in 2021.
- What is the lowest adult literacy rate recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.57 in 1981.
- How does Nepal rank for adult literacy rate?
- Nepal ranks 86th out of 110 countries with data for 2021.
- Is adult literacy rate rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nepal data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Adult Literacy Rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 9 observations, free to reuse under IMF Terms and Conditions (attribution required).
About this data
Gender-disaggregated data on educational outcomes.