Literacy Rate: Jordan

Analysis# Jordan Literacy Rate Jordan's literacy rate reached 94.44% in 2024, reflecting steady progress over the past four decades. The country peaked at 97.89% in 2012 and has maintained rates above 94% since 2011, a dramatic improvement from the 66.8% recorded in 1979. Over 45 years, Jordan increased its literacy rate by 41.4 percentage points, positioning itself among the higher-literate nations in the Middle East and North Africa region. A significant acceleration occurred between 2003 and 2012, when the rate jumped from 89.89% to 97.89%—a 9-percentage-point gain in just nine years. Since the 2012 peak, the rate has plateaued slightly, hovering between 94.44% and 95.9%, suggesting Jordan has reached a saturation point where further gains may require targeted interventions for harder-to-reach populations. The recent stability indicates institutional consolidation of literacy achievements rather than continued momentum.