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

The highest recorded value was 95.0% in 1475.

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

The lowest recorded value was 1.5% in 1950.

How does United Kingdom rank for literate and illiterate world population?

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

Where does this United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom

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

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

Latest (1950)

1.5%

World rank

105th

of 128 countries

All-time high

95.0%

in 1475

All-time low

1.5%

in 1950

Years of data

1475–1950

Literate and illiterate world population in United Kingdom, 1475–1950

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

Analysis

United Kingdom recorded 1.5% for literate and illiterate world population in 1950. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.

Over the whole period, literate and illiterate world population in United Kingdom peaked at 95.0% in 1475 and was at its lowest, 1.5%, in 1950.

United Kingdom ranks 105th of 128 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1470s	95.0%	95.0%	95.0%	1
1550s	84.0%	84.0%	84.0%	1
1650s	47.0%	47.0%	47.0%	1
1750s	46.0%	46.0%	46.0%	1
1950s	1.5%	1.5%	1.5%	1

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

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 Netherlands 1.5% compare
105 Sweden 1.5% compare

See the full ranking of 128 places →

More population data for United Kingdom

Population growth rate 0.7% (2023)

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is literate and illiterate world population in United Kingdom?: Literate and illiterate world population in United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom?: The highest recorded value was 95.0% in 1475.
What is the lowest literate and illiterate world population recorded in United Kingdom?: The lowest recorded value was 1.5% in 1950.
How does United Kingdom rank for literate and illiterate world population?: United Kingdom ranks 105th out of 128 countries with data for 1950.
Where does this United Kingdom 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.