Demographics
Mapped: The Geography of Global Literacy
Mapped: The Geography of Global Literacy
Literacy is a fundamental building block that can lead to a strong education, the ability to solve complex problems, and gaining the skills and knowledge to participate meaningfully in society. As a result, it’s also an important facilitator of economic development.
However, it’s estimated that nearly 800 million adults around the world still lack basic literacy skills—and this can create ongoing drag on the economy.
In the U.S., as one example, the people with the lowest literacy scores are 16.5x more likely to receive financial aid from the government. At the same time, they are also more likely to be in the lowest earning wage group, earning less than $300 per week.
Today’s post uses charts from Our World in Data, and it shows what literacy looks like on a global scale, and how is it shifting from generation to generation.
Global Literacy: The Big Picture
Over the past two centuries, global literacy has seen steady growth.
In the year 1800, it’s estimated that a mere 12.1% of the world was able to read and write. The most recent data shows the numbers have actually flipped—and now just 13.8% of the global population is illiterate.
It’s clear that from a high level, progress towards global literacy is being made.
But at the same time, a look at the graph shows that in more recent years, the rate of change has been slowing as we reach the “last mile” of literacy.
The Generational Perspective
Learning to read and write is easiest and most fruitful at a young age, and it’s a skill that is very unlikely to be lost later in life. For that reason, it’s worth looking at the difference between older and younger generations in terms of who is learning these skills.
For this, we zoom into the Middle East and Northern Africa region, which is where the majority of recent gains in literacy have been made:
Here, the difference in literacy between the 15-24 year age group and those over 65 years is substantial, with countries seeing large, double-digit increases in the ability to read and write:
- 🇩🇿 Algeria
The literacy rate is at 92% for the 15-24 age group, compared to 16% of the oldest generation - 🇮🇷 Iran
99% of the 15-24 age group is literate, while 29% of the oldest generation can say the same - 🇴🇲 Oman
98% of those aged 15-24 are literate, compared to just 23% in the 65+ age group - 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
98% of those aged 15-24 can read and write, versus 26% of those in the oldest bracket - 🇪🇷 Eritrea
The literacy rate is at 90% for the 15-24 age group, and 18% for those in the 65+ age group
It’s not that surprising then, that the above countries all now sit in the 75-95% percent range for overall literacy—a number that will likely improve further as education systems continue to help younger generations become literate early in life.
The Literacy Opportunity
While some countries have seen obvious generational improvements in literacy, there are places in the world where changes to educational systems have not fully yet manifested yet, or perhaps the data is not yet available for.
According to the interactive map above, here are some places on each continent where progress must still be made:
- North America
Literacy rates: 🇭🇹 Haiti (61%), 🇬🇹 Guatemala (79%), 🇳🇮 Nicaragua (82%) - South America
Literacy rates: 🇬🇾 Guyana (88%) - Europe
Literacy rates: 🇽🇰 Kosovo (92%) - Asia
Literacy rates: 🇦🇫 Afghanistan (38%), 🇵🇰 Pakistan (56%), 🇧🇩 Bangladesh (61%), 🇾🇪 Yemen (70%) - Africa
Literacy rates: 🇳🇪 Niger (19%), 🇬🇳 Guinea (30%), 🇸🇸 South Sudan (32%), 🇲🇱 Mali (33%), 🇨🇫 Central African Republic (37%), 🇸🇴 Somalia (38%), 🇧🇯 Benin (38%) - Oceania
Literacy rates: 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea (62%)
With many NGOs and educators focused on this problem, there is hope that the “last mile” of global literacy can be solved, leading to more economic opportunity in these places—and also the world itself as a whole.

This article was published as a part of Visual Capitalist's Creator Program, which features data-driven visuals from some of our favorite Creators around the world.
Healthcare
Charted: Average Years Left to Live by Age
Visualizing the number of years left to live for Americans at every age, reveals the broader trends in American life expectancy.

How Many Years Do You Have Left to Live?
At the start of the 19th century, when there fewer than 1 billion humans on the earth, global life expectancy at birth stood at roughly 29 years.
This is a startlingly low figure—because life expectancy is a statistical projection of how many more years a person can expect to live, based on the mortality rates at the time. And since the infant mortality rate in particular was so high, life expectancies accurately summarized the low likelihood of many babies living to adulthood.
However, since the 1920s, life expectancy across all ages has improved leaps and bounds, thanks to rapid advancements in nutrition, healthcare, and sanitation.
We visualized the current American life expectancy by age and gender, using data from the Office of Social Security, which bases their current projections on 2020 mortality rates.
American Life Expectancy at Every Age
A key takeaway with life expectancy is that it increases as one gets older. This is easily seen in the table below, which lists the remaining years left to live at a given age for an American male and the projected life expectancy.
Age | Years Remaining (Men) | Life Expectancy (Men) |
---|---|---|
0 | 74.12 | 74.12 |
1 | 73.55 | 74.55 |
2 | 72.58 | 74.58 |
3 | 71.60 | 74.60 |
4 | 70.62 | 74.62 |
5 | 69.63 | 74.63 |
6 | 68.64 | 74.64 |
7 | 67.65 | 74.65 |
8 | 66.65 | 74.65 |
9 | 65.66 | 74.66 |
10 | 64.67 | 74.67 |
11 | 63.68 | 74.68 |
12 | 62.69 | 74.69 |
13 | 61.70 | 74.70 |
14 | 60.71 | 74.71 |
15 | 59.73 | 74.73 |
16 | 58.76 | 74.76 |
17 | 57.79 | 74.79 |
18 | 56.84 | 74.84 |
19 | 55.90 | 74.90 |
20 | 54.97 | 74.97 |
21 | 54.04 | 75.04 |
22 | 53.12 | 75.12 |
23 | 52.21 | 75.21 |
24 | 51.30 | 75.30 |
25 | 50.39 | 75.39 |
26 | 49.48 | 75.48 |
27 | 48.57 | 75.57 |
28 | 47.66 | 75.66 |
29 | 46.76 | 75.76 |
30 | 45.86 | 75.86 |
31 | 44.97 | 75.97 |
32 | 44.07 | 76.07 |
33 | 43.18 | 76.18 |
34 | 42.29 | 76.29 |
35 | 41.39 | 76.39 |
36 | 40.50 | 76.50 |
37 | 39.62 | 76.62 |
38 | 38.73 | 76.73 |
39 | 37.85 | 76.85 |
40 | 36.97 | 76.97 |
41 | 36.09 | 77.09 |
42 | 35.21 | 77.21 |
43 | 34.34 | 77.34 |
44 | 33.46 | 77.46 |
45 | 32.59 | 77.59 |
46 | 31.73 | 77.73 |
47 | 30.87 | 77.87 |
48 | 30.01 | 78.01 |
49 | 29.17 | 78.17 |
50 | 28.33 | 78.33 |
51 | 27.50 | 78.50 |
52 | 26.67 | 78.67 |
53 | 25.86 | 78.86 |
54 | 25.06 | 79.06 |
55 | 24.27 | 79.27 |
56 | 23.48 | 79.48 |
57 | 22.71 | 79.71 |
58 | 21.95 | 79.95 |
59 | 21.21 | 80.21 |
60 | 20.47 | 80.47 |
61 | 19.74 | 80.74 |
62 | 19.03 | 81.03 |
63 | 18.32 | 81.32 |
64 | 17.63 | 81.63 |
65 | 16.94 | 81.94 |
66 | 16.26 | 82.26 |
67 | 15.58 | 82.58 |
68 | 14.91 | 82.91 |
69 | 14.24 | 83.24 |
70 | 13.59 | 83.59 |
71 | 12.94 | 83.94 |
72 | 12.30 | 84.30 |
73 | 11.67 | 84.67 |
74 | 11.05 | 85.05 |
75 | 10.46 | 85.46 |
76 | 9.88 | 85.88 |
77 | 9.32 | 86.32 |
78 | 8.77 | 86.77 |
79 | 8.25 | 87.25 |
80 | 7.74 | 87.74 |
81 | 7.25 | 88.25 |
82 | 6.77 | 88.77 |
83 | 6.31 | 89.31 |
84 | 5.88 | 89.88 |
85 | 5.47 | 90.47 |
86 | 5.07 | 91.07 |
87 | 4.70 | 91.70 |
88 | 4.35 | 92.35 |
89 | 4.02 | 93.02 |
90 | 3.72 | 93.72 |
91 | 3.44 | 94.44 |
92 | 3.18 | 95.18 |
93 | 2.96 | 95.96 |
94 | 2.75 | 96.75 |
95 | 2.57 | 97.57 |
96 | 2.42 | 98.42 |
97 | 2.28 | 99.28 |
98 | 2.15 | 100.15 |
99 | 2.04 | 101.04 |
100 | 1.93 | 101.93 |
101 | 1.83 | 102.83 |
102 | 1.73 | 103.73 |
103 | 1.63 | 104.63 |
104 | 1.54 | 105.54 |
105 | 1.45 | 106.45 |
106 | 1.36 | 107.36 |
107 | 1.27 | 108.27 |
108 | 1.18 | 109.18 |
109 | 1.10 | 110.10 |
110 | 1.02 | 111.02 |
111 | 0.95 | 111.95 |
112 | 0.88 | 112.88 |
113 | 0.82 | 113.82 |
114 | 0.76 | 114.76 |
115 | 0.70 | 115.70 |
116 | 0.65 | 116.65 |
117 | 0.60 | 117.60 |
118 | 0.56 | 118.56 |
119 | 0.52 | 119.52 |
120 | 0.48 | 120.48 |
At birth, an average American baby boy can expect to live till just past 74. But if the boy reaches adulthood, then at 21 he might live to a full year more, past 75. This trend persists even towards the end of life when the years we have left drop rapidly, influenced by the higher likelihood of death.
American women, on the other hand, have a higher life expectancy than men. At birth the gap is close to six years, narrowing steadily to around one year by 85.
Age | Years Remaining (Women) | Life Expectancy (Women) |
---|---|---|
0 | 79.78 | 79.78 |
1 | 79.17 | 80.17 |
2 | 78.19 | 80.19 |
3 | 77.21 | 80.21 |
4 | 76.22 | 80.22 |
5 | 75.23 | 80.23 |
6 | 74.24 | 80.24 |
7 | 73.25 | 80.25 |
8 | 72.25 | 80.25 |
9 | 71.26 | 80.26 |
10 | 70.27 | 80.27 |
11 | 69.27 | 80.27 |
12 | 68.28 | 80.28 |
13 | 67.29 | 80.29 |
14 | 66.30 | 80.30 |
15 | 65.31 | 80.31 |
16 | 64.32 | 80.32 |
17 | 63.34 | 80.34 |
18 | 62.36 | 80.36 |
19 | 61.38 | 80.38 |
20 | 60.41 | 80.41 |
21 | 59.44 | 80.44 |
22 | 58.47 | 80.47 |
23 | 57.50 | 80.50 |
24 | 56.54 | 80.54 |
25 | 55.58 | 80.58 |
26 | 54.61 | 80.61 |
27 | 53.66 | 80.66 |
28 | 52.70 | 80.70 |
29 | 51.74 | 80.74 |
30 | 50.79 | 80.79 |
31 | 49.84 | 80.84 |
32 | 48.89 | 80.89 |
33 | 47.94 | 80.94 |
34 | 47.00 | 81.00 |
35 | 46.06 | 81.06 |
36 | 45.12 | 81.12 |
37 | 44.18 | 81.18 |
38 | 43.24 | 81.24 |
39 | 42.31 | 81.31 |
40 | 41.38 | 81.38 |
41 | 40.45 | 81.45 |
42 | 39.52 | 81.52 |
43 | 38.60 | 81.60 |
44 | 37.68 | 81.68 |
45 | 36.76 | 81.76 |
46 | 35.85 | 81.85 |
47 | 34.94 | 81.94 |
48 | 34.04 | 82.04 |
49 | 33.14 | 82.14 |
50 | 32.24 | 82.24 |
51 | 31.35 | 82.35 |
52 | 30.47 | 82.47 |
53 | 29.59 | 82.59 |
54 | 28.72 | 82.72 |
55 | 27.86 | 82.86 |
56 | 27.01 | 83.01 |
57 | 26.16 | 83.16 |
58 | 25.32 | 83.32 |
59 | 24.49 | 83.49 |
60 | 23.67 | 83.67 |
61 | 22.85 | 83.85 |
62 | 22.04 | 84.04 |
63 | 21.24 | 84.24 |
64 | 20.45 | 84.45 |
65 | 19.66 | 84.66 |
66 | 18.88 | 84.88 |
67 | 18.10 | 85.10 |
68 | 17.34 | 85.34 |
69 | 16.58 | 85.58 |
70 | 15.82 | 85.82 |
71 | 15.08 | 86.08 |
72 | 14.36 | 86.36 |
73 | 13.64 | 86.64 |
74 | 12.94 | 86.94 |
75 | 12.26 | 87.26 |
76 | 11.60 | 87.60 |
77 | 10.95 | 87.95 |
78 | 10.31 | 88.31 |
79 | 9.70 | 88.70 |
80 | 9.10 | 89.10 |
81 | 8.53 | 89.53 |
82 | 7.98 | 89.98 |
83 | 7.44 | 90.44 |
84 | 6.93 | 90.93 |
85 | 6.44 | 91.44 |
86 | 5.99 | 91.99 |
87 | 5.55 | 92.55 |
88 | 5.15 | 93.15 |
89 | 4.76 | 93.76 |
90 | 4.41 | 94.41 |
91 | 4.08 | 95.08 |
92 | 3.78 | 95.78 |
93 | 3.51 | 96.51 |
94 | 3.27 | 97.27 |
95 | 3.05 | 98.05 |
96 | 2.85 | 98.85 |
97 | 2.68 | 99.68 |
98 | 2.52 | 100.52 |
99 | 2.37 | 101.37 |
100 | 2.23 | 102.23 |
101 | 2.09 | 103.09 |
102 | 1.96 | 103.96 |
103 | 1.84 | 104.84 |
104 | 1.72 | 105.72 |
105 | 1.61 | 106.61 |
106 | 1.51 | 107.51 |
107 | 1.41 | 108.41 |
108 | 1.32 | 109.32 |
109 | 1.24 | 110.24 |
110 | 1.16 | 111.16 |
111 | 1.09 | 112.09 |
112 | 1.02 | 113.02 |
113 | 0.96 | 113.96 |
114 | 0.90 | 114.90 |
115 | 0.85 | 115.85 |
116 | 0.80 | 116.80 |
117 | 0.75 | 117.75 |
118 | 0.70 | 118.70 |
119 | 0.66 | 119.66 |
120 | 0.62 | 120.62 |
Interestingly, women outlive men in nearly every country in the world, due to a mix of sociological, behavioral, and biological reasons.
COVID-19: Reversing A Decade of Increasing American Life Expectancy
While the current American life expectancy at birth seems reasonably high, it is nearly two years lower than the 2022 figure which used the 2019 mortality rate. It is also lower than the life expectancy at birth in 2009, which used 2005 mortality rate.
Year | Life Expectancy at Birth (Men) | Life Expectancy at Birth (Women) |
---|---|---|
2009 | 74.12 | 79.95 |
2014 | 76.10 | 80.94 |
2019 | 76.04 | 80.99 |
2023 | 74.12 | 79.78 |
American mortality rates went up 17% between 2019–2020, in part because of COVID-19, in turn affecting life expectancy. The U.S. also had a higher COVID-19 mortality rate compared to its peers two years after the pandemic first struck.
Thus, American life expectancy may not improve immediately to 2019 levels, which can affect insurance premiums, pension benefits, and plans.
Where Does This Data Come From?
Source: Office of Social Security, U.S. Government.
Note: The life expectancy at a given age is the average remaining number of years expected prior to death for a person at that exact age, born on January 1, using the mortality rates for 2020 over the course of their remaining life.
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