Literate and illiterate world population in Poland

Poland: Literate and illiterate world population was 1.3% in 1978. ◆ Volatile

Latest (1978)
1.3%
World rank
113th
of 128 countries
All-time high
100.0%
in 1475
All-time low
1.3%
in 1978
Years of data
6
1475–1978

Literate and illiterate world population in Poland, 1475–1978

0204060801001475172619781475: 100 %1550: 100 %1650: 97 %1750: 95 %1950: 7.5 %1978: 1.3 %

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for literate and illiterate world population in Poland is 1.3%, measured in 1978. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.

Over the whole period, literate and illiterate world population in Poland peaked at 100.0% in 1475 and was at its lowest, 1.3%, in 1978.

Poland ranks 113th of 128 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

Literate and illiterate world population in Poland, year by year

Annual values for Literate and illiterate world population in Poland, 1475 to 1978.
Year % Change
1475 100.0%
1550 100.0% +0.0%
1650 97.0% -3.0%
1750 95.0% -2.1%
1950 7.5% -92.1%
1978 1.3% -83.2%

Poland compared with similar countries

  • Poland's 1.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.2%, 58% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
  • Poland's 1.3% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.5%, 84% of the median. (25 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1470s 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 1
1550s 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 1
1650s 97.0% 97.0% 97.0% 1
1750s 95.0% 95.0% 95.0% 1
1950s 7.5% 7.5% 7.5% 1
1970s 1.3% 1.3% 1.3% 1

Countries ranked near Poland

  1. 111 Montenegro 1.5%
  2. 112 Mongolia 1.4% compare
  3. 114 United Arab Emirates 1.2%
  4. 115 Hungary 1.1% compare
  5. 116 Uruguay 1.1% compare

See the full ranking of 128 places →

More population data for Poland

All data for Poland →

Frequently asked questions

What is literate and illiterate world population in Poland?
Literate and illiterate world population in Poland was 1.3% in 1978, 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 Poland?
The highest recorded value was 100.0% in 1475.
What is the lowest literate and illiterate world population recorded in Poland?
The lowest recorded value was 1.3% in 1978.
How does Poland rank for literate and illiterate world population?
Poland ranks 113th out of 128 countries with data for 1978.
Where does this Poland 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 Poland. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/literate-and-illiterate-world-population/poland/

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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

Share of adults who cannot read and write a short, simple statement on their everyday life.