Education
Adult literacy rate
67.9%
Latest data: 2021
69
out of 100 — Progressing
+1.3% per year
5-year average trend
What this means
Percentage of adults (15+) who can read and write. Nepal's literacy has risen from 54% in 2001 to 68% in 2021, but remains far below the regional best.
Historical data & projections to 2040
2001–2021Current trend
84.85%
by 2040
Moderate reform (+25%)
89.68%
by 2040
Aggressive reform (+50%)
94.77%
by 2040
Stagnation (-50%)
75.93%
by 2040
Historical data
| Year | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 67.9% | Central Bureau of Statistics Nepal |
| 2011 | 65.9% | Central Bureau of Statistics Nepal |
| 2001 | 53.7% | Central Bureau of Statistics Nepal |
At a glance
Developed country benchmark
99%
Nepal's 2040 target
90%
Progress to benchmark
69% of way there
Direction
Higher is better
Data confidence
high confidence
Regional comparison
Nepal
67.9%
India
77%
Bangladesh
74%
SriLanka
92%
Benchmark99%
Sources
Latest available: 2021 · Updated by Nepal Next: 15 Jun 2026