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

The highest recorded value was 62.5% in 1950.

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

The lowest recorded value was 12.7% in 2014.

How does Nicaragua rank for literate and illiterate world population?

Nicaragua ranks 46th out of 128 countries with data for 2014.

Is literate and illiterate world population rising or falling in Nicaragua?

Over the last ten years it is down 42.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Nicaragua 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 Nicaragua

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

Nicaragua: Literate and illiterate world population was 12.7% in 2014. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2014)

12.7%

Change on year

down 11.9%

World rank

46th

of 128 countries

All-time high

62.5%

in 1950

All-time low

12.7%

in 2014

Years of data

1950–2014

Literate and illiterate world population in Nicaragua, 1950–2014

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for literate and illiterate world population in Nicaragua is 12.7%, measured in 2014. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 11.9% on the previous year and down 42.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literate and illiterate world population in Nicaragua peaked at 62.5% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 12.7%, in 2014.

Nicaragua ranks 46th of 128 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1950s	62.5%	62.5%	62.5%	1
2000s	22.7%	22.0%	23.3%	2
2010s	13.5%	12.7%	14.4%	2

Countries ranked near Nicaragua

43 Iraq 15.9% compare
44 Tunisia 13.8% compare
45 Papua New Guinea 13.0% compare
47 Sao Tome and Principe 12.6% compare
48 Namibia 12.4% compare
49 Belize 12.1% compare

See the full ranking of 128 places →

More population data for Nicaragua

Population growth rate 1.4% (2023)

All data for Nicaragua →

Frequently asked questions

What is literate and illiterate world population in Nicaragua?: Literate and illiterate world population in Nicaragua was 12.7% in 2014, 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 Nicaragua?: The highest recorded value was 62.5% in 1950.
What is the lowest literate and illiterate world population recorded in Nicaragua?: The lowest recorded value was 12.7% in 2014.
How does Nicaragua rank for literate and illiterate world population?: Nicaragua ranks 46th out of 128 countries with data for 2014.
Is literate and illiterate world population rising or falling in Nicaragua?: Over the last ten years it is down 42.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Nicaragua 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

CSV · JSON — 5 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

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.