UNESCO’s Institute for Statistics reports global literacy rates of 88% among adults and 93% among youth in its 2026 Education Data Refresh. The different percentages refer to different age groups; the youth rate should not be presented as the adult rate. UIS data update
UNESCO’s literacy overview defines the adult population as people aged 15 and older. It says the global adult literacy rate increased from 65% in 1975 to 88% in 2024. The year of a data release and the year being measured are distinct: a 2026 publication can report observations relating to earlier years.
Despite the rise in literacy, UNESCO estimates that at least 739 million adults still cannot read or write. Its literacy work is connected to Sustainable Development Goal 4, including the target addressing literacy and numeracy. The figures describe an ongoing challenge, not a declaration that universal literacy has been achieved. UNESCO literacy overview
A careful account retains the age group, reference year and global scope of each figure. These sources support reporting on the published literacy measures, but they do not establish a new funding commitment or remarks by a named official unless those details appear in a separate record.
Archive note: the earlier 92% adult rate, milestone, funding and quotation claims were not supported.