What is the highest literate and illiterate world population recorded in Netherlands?

The highest recorded value was 88.0% in 1550.

What is the lowest literate and illiterate world population recorded in Netherlands?

The lowest recorded value was 1.5% in 1950.

How does Netherlands rank for literate and illiterate world population?

Netherlands ranks 105th out of 128 countries with data for 1950.

Where does this Netherlands data come from?

The figures come from UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Literate and illiterate world population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Literate and illiterate world population in Netherlands

Name: Literate and illiterate world population in Netherlands
Creator: UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Netherlands: Literate and illiterate world population was 1.5% in 1950. ◆ Volatile

Latest (1950)

1.5%

World rank

105th

of 128 countries

All-time high

88.0%

in 1550

All-time low

1.5%

in 1950

Years of data

1475–1950

Literate and illiterate world population in Netherlands, 1475–1950

Source: UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 1950, literate and illiterate world population in Netherlands stood at 1.5%. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.

Over the whole period, literate and illiterate world population in Netherlands peaked at 88.0% in 1550 and was at its lowest, 1.5%, in 1950.

That places Netherlands 105th out of 128 countries with data for 1950, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1470s	83.0%	83.0%	83.0%	1
1550s	88.0%	88.0%	88.0%	1
1650s	47.0%	47.0%	47.0%	1
1750s	15.0%	15.0%	15.0%	1
1950s	1.5%	1.5%	1.5%	1

Countries ranked near Netherlands

102 Maldives 1.8% compare
103 Bulgaria 1.6% compare
104 Philippines 1.5% compare
105 Finland 1.5% compare
105 Germany 1.5% compare
105 Ireland 1.5% compare
105 Sweden 1.5% compare
105 United Kingdom 1.5% compare

See the full ranking of 128 places →

More population data for Netherlands

Population growth rate 0.8% (2023)

All data for Netherlands →

Frequently asked questions

What is literate and illiterate world population in Netherlands?: Literate and illiterate world population in Netherlands was 1.5% in 1950, according to UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest literate and illiterate world population recorded in Netherlands?: The highest recorded value was 88.0% in 1550.
What is the lowest literate and illiterate world population recorded in Netherlands?: The lowest recorded value was 1.5% in 1950.
How does Netherlands rank for literate and illiterate world population?: Netherlands ranks 105th out of 128 countries with data for 1950.
Where does this Netherlands data come from?: The figures come from UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Literate and illiterate world population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

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About this data

Indicator: Literate and illiterate world population
Unit: %
Source: UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 128 places, 1,272 data points, 1475–2024
Last refreshed: 06 August 2026

Share of adults who cannot read and write a short, simple statement on their everyday life.