Literate and illiterate world population in Uruguay

Uruguay: Literate and illiterate world population was 1.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
1.1%
Change on year
down 7.2%
World rank
116th
of 128 countries
All-time high
17.5%
in 1950
All-time low
1.0%
in 2020
Years of data
22
1950–2024

Literate and illiterate world population in Uruguay, 1950–2024

051015201950198720241950: 17.5 %1975: 6.1 %1985: 4.6 %1996: 3.2 %2006: 2.2 %2007: 2.1 %2008: 1.8 %2009: 1.7 %2010: 1.9 %2011: 1.7 %2012: 1.6 %2013: 1.6 %2014: 1.6 %2015: 1.5 %2016: 1.4 %2017: 1.4 %2018: 1.3 %2019: 1.2 %2020: 1 %2022: 1.1 %2023: 1.2 %2024: 1.1 %

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

Analysis

In 2024, literate and illiterate world population in Uruguay stood at 1.1%.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.2% on the previous year and down 30.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literate and illiterate world population in Uruguay peaked at 17.5% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 1.0%, in 2020.

Uruguay ranks 116th of 128 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 17.5% 17.5% 17.5% 1
1970s 6.1% 6.1% 6.1% 1
1980s 4.6% 4.6% 4.6% 1
1990s 3.2% 3.2% 3.2% 1
2000s 2.0% 1.7% 2.2% 4
2010s 1.5% 1.2% 1.9% 10
2020s 1.1% 1.0% 1.2% 4

Countries ranked near Uruguay

  1. 113 Poland 1.3% compare
  2. 114 United Arab Emirates 1.2% compare
  3. 115 Hungary 1.1% compare
  4. 117 Argentina 0.9% compare
  5. 118 Romania 0.8% compare
  6. 119 Qatar 0.7% compare

See the full ranking of 128 places →

More population data for Uruguay

All data for Uruguay →

Frequently asked questions

What is literate and illiterate world population in Uruguay?
Literate and illiterate world population in Uruguay was 1.1% in 2024, 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 Uruguay?
The highest recorded value was 17.5% in 1950.
What is the lowest literate and illiterate world population recorded in Uruguay?
The lowest recorded value was 1.0% in 2020.
How does Uruguay rank for literate and illiterate world population?
Uruguay ranks 116th out of 128 countries with data for 2024.
Is literate and illiterate world population rising or falling in Uruguay?
Over the last ten years it is down 30.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Uruguay 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.

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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

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