Literacy Rate: Turkey
Turkey's literacy rate is currently 97.3% as of 2021. # Turkey Literacy Rate Turkey's literacy rate reached 97.
Current (2021)
97.3%
+0.5% y/y
Peak (2021)
97.3%
Low (1975)
61.6%
Source
World Bank World Development Indicators
1975–2021 · 19 pts
Literacy Rate — Turkey
1975 — 2021
Literacy Rate — Turkey
Analysis# Turkey Literacy Rate
Turkey's literacy rate reached 97.26% in 2021, matching its all-time peak and reflecting decades of educational advancement. The country has transformed dramatically since 1975, when only 61.63% of the population was literate—a gain of 57.8 percentage points over 46 years. This sustained improvement demonstrates Turkey's long-term commitment to expanding educational access across generations.
The upward trajectory accelerated significantly from 2010 onward, climbing from 92.66% to 97.26% within a single decade. Annual gains consistently ranged between 0.3 and 0.5 percentage points between 2010 and 2021, indicating systematic progress rather than plateauing. Continued momentum in this direction suggests Turkey will maintain its position among higher-literacy nations in coming years.
Historical Data
19 Rows| Year | Value | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 97.3% | +0.54% |
| 2019 | 96.7% | +0.61% |
| 2017 | 96.2% | +0.30% |
| 2016 | 95.9% | +0.27% |
| 2015 | 95.6% | +0.17% |
| 2014 | 95.4% | +0.19% |
| 2013 | 95.3% | +0.36% |
| 2012 | 94.9% | +0.86% |
| 2011 | 94.1% | +1.56% |
| 2010 | 92.7% | +2.03% |
| 2009 | 90.8% | +2.44% |
| 2007 | 88.7% | +0.61% |
| 2006 | 88.1% | -0.12% |
| 2005 | 88.2% | +0.98% |
| 2004 | 87.4% | +10.27% |
| 1990 | 79.2% | +4.29% |
| 1985 | 76.0% | +15.65% |
| 1980 | 65.7% | +6.59% |
| 1975 | 61.6% | — |
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