ABSTRACT
Literacy is a critical component in the advancement of a society's life expectancy, as well as an individual's ability to better participate in social, political, and economic activities. Literacy rates in each nation for the years 2000, 2010, and 2020 were tabulated for longitudinal analysis using data from the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Median literacy rates were tabulated for global, continental, and regional analysis. Female literacy rates in Asia and Africa were analysed. Literacy rates in the first two decades of the 21st century have grown across the globe, on each continent, and in every region of the world. Europe retained the highest literacy rates in the world, serving as an example that universal literacy is achievable at the continental level. Large gains in literacy in Central America improved North America's median continental literacy. Substantial growth was found across the developing world, especially in northern Africa, eastern Africa, southern Asia, and the Middle East. Namibia, Eritrea, Cambodia, Nepal, Seychelles, Bangladesh, Vanuatu, and Burundi all improved their national literacy rates by over 33 percent in the period 2000–2020. Substantial female literacy growth was found in northern Africa, eastern Africa, southern Africa, and southern Asia. Namibia, Cambodia, Nepal, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Burundi, Vanuatu, Seychelles, Laos, and Morocco all improved their national female rates by 33 percent or more during the period 2000–2020. Central Africa, while improving on a regional basis, saw significant losses in literacy in Chad and in the Central African Republic.
