The literacy rate in Finland is among the highest in the world, at 100% of its population aged 15 and over being able to read and write. Finland’s population places high importance on literacy, with nearly 50% of Finnish children being able to read before starting school. The country also has a low secondary school drop-out rate and over 93% enrollment rate, which contributes to its high literacy rate. Greenland and Luxembourg are the only other countries in the world with a 100% literacy rate. The West African country of Burkina Faso has the lowest literacy rate in the world, at just approximately 21% of its population being able to read or write.
More about the worldwide literacy rate:
- 12% of the world’s population, approximately 775 million people, are considered illiterate.
- If every country had a 100% literacy rate, it would save the global economy over $1.19 billion US Dollars (USD) every year.
- 19% of US students graduate without being able to read at an adult level, according to findings from the U.S. Department of Education and the National Institute of Literacy.