Adult Literacy Rate in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Adult Literacy Rate was 92.74 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Adult Literacy Rate in Sri Lanka, 1981–2024
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
In 2024, adult literacy rate in Sri Lanka stood at 92.74. That is the highest value across all 16 years on record.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 0.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult literacy rate in Sri Lanka peaked at 92.74 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 86.78, in 1981.
Sri Lanka ranks 52nd of 110 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 16 years of available data.
Adult Literacy Rate in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 86.78 | — |
| 2001 | 90.68 | +4.5% |
| 2006 | 90.81 | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 90.56 | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 91.18 | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 92.53 | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 92.55 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 92.39 | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 91.9 | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 91.71 | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 92.25 | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 92.38 | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 92.43 | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 92.49 | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 92.66 | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 92.74 | +0.1% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 92.74 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 95.44, 97% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 92.74 is above the median for South Asia, which is 79, 1.2× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 86.78 | 86.78 | 86.78 | 1 |
| 2000s | 90.68 | 90.56 | 90.81 | 3 |
| 2010s | 92.07 | 91.18 | 92.55 | 7 |
| 2020s | 92.54 | 92.38 | 92.74 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More gender data for Sri Lanka
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 4,804 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.8687 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 18,964 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 18,964 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.7411 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 155,366 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 162,031 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 156,342 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 163,015 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 157,484 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult literacy rate in Sri Lanka?
- Adult literacy rate in Sri Lanka was 92.74 in 2024, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest adult literacy rate recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 92.74 in 2024.
- What is the lowest adult literacy rate recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 86.78 in 1981.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for adult literacy rate?
- Sri Lanka ranks 52nd out of 110 countries with data for 2024.
- Is adult literacy rate rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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 — 16 observations, free to reuse under IMF Terms and Conditions (attribution required).
About this data
Gender-disaggregated data on educational outcomes.