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Index / Education /
Literacy


The definition of literacy rates is the part of the population above the age of 15, who can read and write. Considering the given figures it must be considered that the methods of measuring varies from country to country, and the quality of the figures varies too. Statistical insecurity here is considerable, and the more for countries with poor ranking, perhaps up to ±10%. For all countries, official statistics may be coloured by propaganda considerations.
In all countries, literacy has higher rates for males, except United Arab Emirates where women score better and Qatar were there is no difference.
Data obtained from CIA World Factbook.

MENA rank Total Women Men
1. Israel 97% 96% 98%
2. Kuwait 93% 91% 94%
3. Palestine 92% 88% 97%
4. Jordan 90% 85% 95%
5. Qatar 89% 89% 89%
6. Bahrain 87% 84% 89%
7. Lebanon 87% 82% 94%
8. Turkey 87% 80% 95%
9. Libya 83% 72% 92%
10. Oman 81% 74% 87%
11. Syria 80% 74% 86%
12. United Arab Emirates 80% 82% 76%
13. Saudi Arabia 79% 71% 85%
14. Iran 77% 70% 84%
15. Iraq 74% 64% 84%
16. Tunisia 74% 65% 83%
17. Egypt 71% 59% 83%
18. Algeria 70% 60% 80%
19. Sudan 61% 51% 72%
20. Morocco 52% 40% 66%
21. Mauritania 51% 43% 59%
22. Yemen 50% 30% 70%





By Tore Kjeilen