by Anna Hall

Explore the journey of global adult literacy, highlighting its significant progress and the ongoing challenges older generations face. Discover the disparities in literacy rates by age and gender, and learn about organizations working to improve adult education worldwide.

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Through the centuries, society has expanded beyond the imaginations of those who walked the same Earth thousands of years ago. One constant amid this progression is the principle that knowledge shapes capability. Education has always been one of the most critical processes for a flourishing life. The more one knows, the greater the opportunity to excel. Education has evolved as human understanding and exploration continue to grow, and an aspect of education that is integral to one’s quality of life is literacy. 

Around the world, literacy rates have improved significantly over the past two centuries. In 1820, only one in ten people were literate, whereas today, only about one in ten people are illiterate (Roser & Ortiz-Ospina, 2024). Literacy is an essential tool for the productivity and prosperity of not only the individual but also society as a whole. 

Global Literacy

Today, the global literacy rate stands at 86.3%, a significant increase from 56% in 1950. National and global efforts to raise literacy rates have made significant impacts on reducing poverty, economic growth, improving health and preserving cultural heritage. While much of this progress has focused on providing free or accessible primary and secondary education, adult literacy has often been overlooked. 

According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 750 million adults still lack basic reading and writing skills as of 2017 — two-thirds of whom are women. Additionally, UIS reported that in 2016, the adult literacy rate was only 86%, compared to 91% among youth (UNESCO, Literacy rates continue to rise from one generation to the next, 2017). 

The disparities in literacy rates between adults and children indicate that concerted efforts to reduce illiteracy have prioritized the younger generations. Though ensuring future prosperity by investing in the youth is provident, as a society we should also ensure the prosperity of those who are alive today.  

Adult Literacy and Disparities

Adult literacy rates vary widely by country. Some nations boast near-universal literacy among their citizens, while others report their adult literacy rates between 30-40%. UNESCO defines literacy as the ability to read and write brief statements which are used for day-to-day interactions. However, the criteria for literacy vary across countries. 

Broad statistics often mask disparities within adult literacy, such as differences in age groups and gender. For example, an article by Roser and Ortiz-Ospina for Our World in Data highlights age-related data on literacy rates by two different groups—15-24 and 65+. The difference between adult literacy among those aged 15-24 and 65+ in Morocco is 82% and 14%. In Algeria, 92% of adults 15-24 are literate, while 16% of adults 65+ are (Roser & Ortiz-Ospina, 2024). As for gender disparities, as of 2021, 90.22% of men were literate as compared to 83.51% of women (Dyvik, 2024). 

Global Adult Literacy Organizations

Several global organizations are dedicated to promoting adult literacy. ProLiteracy is a leading organization that provides funding, training, and resources to improve adult literacy programs. The organization was born from the coming together of the Laubach Literacy Foundation and the Literacy Volunteers of America, two organizations born from the desire to show people within their communities the transformative power of literacy. 

UNESCO’s Global Alliance for Literacy is a collaborative effort between 31 countries to improve youth and adult literacy. One success story from the organization involves a training program it launched with a community learning centre in Bangladesh to provide training on the effective use of technology in teaching and learning. Both organizations take innovative and collaborative approaches to tackle adult literacy challenges. 

The world has come far in its journey toward universal literacy. Every year, it sees improvements in overall quality and access to literacy. Though challenges remain, the progress achieved so far proves that there is hope for a future where everyone, regardless of age or gender, has access to education. With the continued dedication of organizations such as ProLiteracy and UNESCO, no one will be left behind, especially older generations who were previously overlooked. Literacy, after all, is the foundation upon which a thriving future is built.

References

UNESCO. (n.d.). Literacy rates continue to rise from one generation to … UNESCO Institute for Statistics. https://uis.unesco.org/sites/default/files/documents/fs45-literacy-rates-continue-rise-generation-to-next-en-2017_0.pdf 

Dyvik, E. H. (2024, July 4). Literacy rate by gender worldwide 2022. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1220131/global-adult-literacy-rate-by-gender/ 

Roser, M., & Ortiz-Ospina, E. (2024, March 6). Literacy. Our World in Data. https://ourworldindata.org/literacy 

Roser, M., & Ortiz-Ospina, E. (2024a, March 6). Literacy. Our World in Data. https://ourworldindata.org/literacy