Literate and illiterate world population in Macao

Macao: Literate and illiterate world population was 3.5% in 2016. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2016)
3.5%
World rank
88th
of 128 countries
All-time high
42.5%
in 1950
All-time low
3.5%
in 2016
Years of data
6
1950–2016

Literate and illiterate world population in Macao, 1950–2016

0102030401950198320161950: 42.5 %1981: 9.6 %2001: 8.7 %2006: 6.5 %2011: 4.4 %2016: 3.5 %

Source: UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2016, literate and illiterate world population in Macao stood at 3.5%. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.

The figure is down 46.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literate and illiterate world population in Macao peaked at 42.5% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 3.5%, in 2016.

That places Macao 88th out of 128 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the middle of the range.

Literate and illiterate world population in Macao, year by year

Annual values for Literate and illiterate world population in Macao, 1950 to 2016.
Year % Change
1950 42.5% —
1981 9.6% -77.4%
2001 8.7% -9.6%
2006 6.5% -25.3%
2011 4.4% -32.9%
2016 3.5% -20.6%

Macao compared with similar countries

  • Macao's 3.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.2%, 1.6× the median. (33 countries reporting)
  • Macao's 3.5% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.0%, 87% of the median. (18 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 42.5% 42.5% 42.5% 1
1980s 9.6% 9.6% 9.6% 1
2000s 7.6% 6.5% 8.7% 2
2010s 3.9% 3.5% 4.4% 2

Countries ranked near Macao

  1. 85 Belgium 3.5%
  2. 85 France 3.5%
  3. 85 United States 3.5%
  4. 89 Bolivia 3.3% compare
  5. 90 China 3.3% compare
  6. 91 Venezuela 2.8% compare

See the full ranking of 128 places →

More population data for Macao

All data for Macao →

Frequently asked questions

What is literate and illiterate world population in Macao?
Literate and illiterate world population in Macao was 3.5% in 2016, 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 Macao?
The highest recorded value was 42.5% in 1950.
What is the lowest literate and illiterate world population recorded in Macao?
The lowest recorded value was 3.5% in 2016.
How does Macao rank for literate and illiterate world population?
Macao ranks 88th out of 128 countries with data for 2016.
Is literate and illiterate world population rising or falling in Macao?
Over the last ten years it is down 46.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Macao 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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Literate and illiterate world population in Macao. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 25 September 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/literate-and-illiterate-world-population/macao-sar-china/

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About this data

Indicator
Literate and illiterate world population
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
128 places, 1,272 data points, 1475–2024
Last refreshed

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