Literate and illiterate world population in Singapore
Singapore: Literate and illiterate world population was 2.4% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Literate and illiterate world population in Singapore, 1950–2021
Source: UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Singapore recorded 2.4% for literate and illiterate world population in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 16 years on record.
That represents a change of down 18.1% on the previous year and down 38.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literate and illiterate world population in Singapore peaked at 52.5% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 2.4%, in 2021.
That places Singapore 95th out of 128 countries with data for 2021, 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 Singapore, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 52.5% | — |
| 1980 | 17.1% | -67.4% |
| 1990 | 10.9% | -36.2% |
| 2000 | 7.5% | -31.7% |
| 2010 | 4.1% | -44.4% |
| 2011 | 3.8% | -8.0% |
| 2012 | 3.6% | -4.7% |
| 2013 | 3.5% | -5.0% |
| 2014 | 3.3% | -4.9% |
| 2015 | 3.2% | -3.4% |
| 2016 | 3.0% | -6.9% |
| 2017 | 2.8% | -5.1% |
| 2018 | 2.7% | -5.0% |
| 2019 | 2.5% | -5.3% |
| 2020 | 2.9% | +13.9% |
| 2021 | 2.4% | -18.1% |
Singapore compared with similar countries
- Singapore's 2.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.2%, 1.1× the median. (33 countries reporting)
- Singapore's 2.4% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.0%, 59% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Literate and illiterate world population in Singapore 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | -67.4% | 52.5% | 17.1% |
| 2010 | -44.4% | 7.5% | 4.1% |
| 1990 | -36.2% | 17.1% | 10.9% |
| 2000 | -31.7% | 10.9% | 7.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 52.5% | 52.5% | 52.5% | 1 |
| 1980s | 17.1% | 17.1% | 17.1% | 1 |
| 1990s | 10.9% | 10.9% | 10.9% | 1 |
| 2000s | 7.5% | 7.5% | 7.5% | 1 |
| 2010s | 3.2% | 2.5% | 4.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.6% | 2.4% | 2.9% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Singapore
More population data for Singapore
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.0914 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.9668 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2028)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.9668 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.9% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 140,350 people (2100)
- Population density 5,798 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.9% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5703 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.4648 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literate and illiterate world population in Singapore?
- Literate and illiterate world population in Singapore was 2.4% in 2021, 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 Singapore?
- The highest recorded value was 52.5% in 1950.
- What is the lowest literate and illiterate world population recorded in Singapore?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.4% in 2021.
- How does Singapore rank for literate and illiterate world population?
- Singapore ranks 95th out of 128 countries with data for 2021.
- Is literate and illiterate world population rising or falling in Singapore?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Singapore 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.