Literacy Rate: Egypt
Egypt's literacy rate is currently 79.5% as of 2022. # Egypt Literacy Rate Egypt's literacy rate reached 79.
Current (2022)
79.5%
-3.2% y/y
Peak (2021)
82.1%
Low (1976)
38.2%
Source
World Bank World Development Indicators
1976–2022 · 11 pts
Literacy Rate — Egypt
1976 — 2022
Literacy Rate — Egypt
Analysis# Egypt Literacy Rate
Egypt's literacy rate reached 79.453% in 2022, down slightly from its peak of 82.08% in 2021. This represents dramatic progress from the 1976 low of 38.2%, marking a 108% total increase over nearly five decades. The nation has transformed from a country where literacy remained below 45% through the mid-1980s to one approaching 80%, reflecting substantial investments in education and access to schooling across its population.
The most significant gains occurred between 1996 and 2021, when the rate climbed from 55.59% to 82.08%—a 26-percentage-point surge spanning a quarter-century. Recent data shows a minor decline from 2021 to 2022, suggesting the rate may be stabilizing near its current level. Sustained momentum toward universal literacy depends on maintaining educational infrastructure and addressing remaining gaps in coverage and quality.
Historical Data
11 Rows| Year | Value | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 79.5% | -3.20% |
| 2021 | 82.1% | +15.33% |
| 2017 | 71.2% | -1.75% |
| 2013 | 72.4% | -1.94% |
| 2012 | 73.9% | +2.53% |
| 2010 | 72.0% | +8.56% |
| 2006 | 66.4% | -1.43% |
| 2005 | 67.3% | +21.12% |
| 1996 | 55.6% | +25.15% |
| 1986 | 44.4% | +16.28% |
| 1976 | 38.2% | — |
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