Literate and illiterate world population in Colombia
Colombia: Literate and illiterate world population was 4.7% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Literate and illiterate world population in Colombia, 1918–2024
Source: UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Colombia recorded 4.7% for literate and illiterate world population in 2024.
The figure is up 2.6% on the previous year and down 19.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literate and illiterate world population in Colombia peaked at 57.6% in 1918 and was at its lowest, 4.3%, in 2021.
That places Colombia 76th out of 128 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Literate and illiterate world population in Colombia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1918 | 57.6% | — |
| 1928 | 48.4% | -16.0% |
| 1938 | 44.2% | -8.7% |
| 1950 | 47.5% | +7.5% |
| 1993 | 8.9% | -81.2% |
| 1996 | 8.8% | -1.7% |
| 2004 | 7.2% | -18.1% |
| 2005 | 7.2% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 7.7% | +7.7% |
| 2007 | 7.3% | -4.5% |
| 2008 | 6.6% | -9.9% |
| 2009 | 6.8% | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 6.6% | -1.9% |
| 2011 | 6.4% | -3.2% |
| 2014 | 5.8% | -9.5% |
| 2015 | 5.8% | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 5.3% | -7.0% |
| 2017 | 5.1% | -4.4% |
| 2018 | 4.9% | -4.0% |
| 2019 | 4.8% | -3.3% |
| 2020 | 4.4% | -8.2% |
| 2021 | 4.3% | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 4.7% | +8.1% |
| 2023 | 4.5% | -3.1% |
| 2024 | 4.7% | +2.6% |
Colombia compared with similar countries
- Colombia's 4.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.6%, 1.0× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Colombia's 4.7% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 5.6%, 83% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Literate and illiterate world population in Colombia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | -81.2% | 47.5% | 8.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 57.6% | 57.6% | 57.6% | 1 |
| 1920s | 48.4% | 48.4% | 48.4% | 1 |
| 1930s | 44.2% | 44.2% | 44.2% | 1 |
| 1950s | 47.5% | 47.5% | 47.5% | 1 |
| 1990s | 8.9% | 8.8% | 8.9% | 2 |
| 2000s | 7.1% | 6.6% | 7.7% | 6 |
| 2010s | 5.6% | 4.8% | 6.6% | 8 |
| 2020s | 4.5% | 4.3% | 4.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Colombia
More population data for Colombia
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.6442 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.7218 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -5.66 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.7218 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.7% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.83 million people (2100)
- Population density 42.43 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.7% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.8769 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.5501 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literate and illiterate world population in Colombia?
- Literate and illiterate world population in Colombia was 4.7% in 2024, according to UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literate and illiterate world population recorded in Colombia?
- The highest recorded value was 57.6% in 1918.
- What is the lowest literate and illiterate world population recorded in Colombia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.3% in 2021.
- How does Colombia rank for literate and illiterate world population?
- Colombia ranks 76th out of 128 countries with data for 2024.
- Is literate and illiterate world population rising or falling in Colombia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Colombia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Literate and illiterate world population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of adults who cannot read and write a short, simple statement on their everyday life.