Literacy Rate: Vanuatu

Analysis# Vanuatu Literacy Rate Vanuatu's literacy rate stands at 87.96% in 2023, reflecting substantial educational progress over four decades. The nation peaked at 92.474% in 2019 before experiencing a modest decline in recent years. Since 1979, when literacy sat at just 52.87%, Vanuatu has achieved a 66.4 percentage point increase—one of the more dramatic improvements across the Pacific region. The 2020-2023 period reveals a concerning reversal. After climbing from 74% in 1999 to 92.474% in 2019, literacy dropped 4.5 percentage points within four years. This recent downward trend warrants attention, as it interrupts decades of steady advancement. Whether this represents a temporary disruption or signals emerging challenges in educational access and completion remains an open question for policymakers monitoring the nation's human capital development.