Literacy in Pakistan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Literacy in Pakistan is a key for social-economic progress. The literacy rate in Pakistan has seen gradual improvement over the past few decades, but it remains a significant challenge. According to recent data, the overall literacy rate in Pakistan is estimated to be around 62-68%,[1] with notable gender disparities. The literacy rate for males at 68-73% is generally higher than that for females 52-60%, particularly in rural areas, where access to education is more limited. Several factors contribute to low literacy rates, including poverty, cultural barriers, inadequate infrastructure, and a lack of quality education in certain regions. Efforts to improve literacy have been made through various government and NGO initiatives, but achieving universal literacy remains a long-term goal. Enhancing educational opportunities, especially for girls, and addressing regional disparities are crucial steps toward improving Pakistan's literacy rate.[2]
Literacy rate by Census
The definition of literacy has been undergoing changes, with the result that the literacy figure has vacillated irregularly during the various censuses. A summary is as follows:[3]
| Year of
census [3] |
Total[3] | Male[3] | Female[3] | Urban[4] | Rural[4] | Definition of
being "literate"[3] |
Age
group[4] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 (West Pakistan) | 17.9%[5] | 21.4%[5] | 13.9%[5] | N/A | N/A | One who can read a clear
print in any language |
All Ages |
| 1961 (West Pakistan) | 16.9%[5] | 26.1%[5] | 6.7%[5] | 34.8% | 10.6% | One who is able to read with
understanding a simple letter in any language |
Age 5 and above |
| 1972 | 21.7% | 30.2% | 11.6% | 41.5% | 14.3% | One who is able to read and
write in some language with understanding |
Age 10 and Above |
| 1981 | 26.2% | 35.1% | 16.0% | 47.1% | 17.3% | One who can read newspaper
and write a simple letter |
Age 10 and Above |
| 1998 | 43.92% | 54.81% | 32.02% | 63.08% | 33.64% | One who can read a newspaper
and write a simple letter, in any language |
Age 10 and Above |
| 2021 | 62.8% | 68% | 52.84% | 74.09% | 51.56% | Age 10 and Above |
Literacy rate by Province and Federally Administered Areas
| Province | Literacy rate[3] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 1981 | 1998 | 2021 | 2023 | |
| Punjab | 20.7% | 27.4% | 46.56% | 66.3% | 70.5% |
| Sindh | 30.2% | 31.5% | 45.29% | 61.8% | 65.4% |
| Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | 15.5% | 16.7% | 35.41% | 55.1% | 59.05% |
| Balochistan | 10.1% | 10.3% | 26.6% | 54.5% | 58.7% |
| Islamabad (ICT) | ... | 47.8%[6][7] | 72.40%[6] | ... | 96% |
| Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) | ... | 25.7%[8] | 55%[9] | ... | 91.88% (2021)[10] |
| Gilgit-Baltistan | ... | 3% [11] | 37.85%[11] | ... | ... |
Literacy rate by Districts
| District | 2023 | 2017 | 1998 | 1981 | 1972 | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Male | Female | Rural | Urban | Total | Male | Female | Rural | Urban | Total | Male | Female | Total | Male | Female | Total | Male | Female | |
| Muzaffarabad | ... | ||||||||||||||||||
| Hattian Bala | ... | ||||||||||||||||||
| Neelum | ... | ||||||||||||||||||
| Mirpur | ... | ||||||||||||||||||
| Bhimber | ... | ||||||||||||||||||
| Kotli | ... | ||||||||||||||||||
| Poonch | ... | ||||||||||||||||||
| Bagh | ... | ||||||||||||||||||
| Haveli | ... | ||||||||||||||||||
| Sudhnati | ... | ||||||||||||||||||
| Ghanche | ... | ||||||||||||||||||
| Skardu | ... | ||||||||||||||||||
| Roundu | ... | ||||||||||||||||||
| Kharmang | ... | ||||||||||||||||||
| Shigar | ... | ||||||||||||||||||
| Astore | ... | ||||||||||||||||||
| Diamer | ... | ||||||||||||||||||
| Darel | ... | ||||||||||||||||||
| Tangir | ... | ||||||||||||||||||
| Ghizer | ... | ||||||||||||||||||
| Gilgit | ... | ||||||||||||||||||
| Hunza | ... | ||||||||||||||||||
| Nagar | ... | ||||||||||||||||||
| Gupis-Yasin District | ... | ||||||||||||||||||
| Abbottabad | 88.34% | 96.20% | 80.42% | 87.15% | 94.81% | ||||||||||||||
| Allai | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ||||||||||||||
| Bajaur | 37.26% | 49.89% | 24.29% | 37.26% | ... | ||||||||||||||
| Bannu | 52.75% | 68.47% | 35.84% | 52.14% | 90.40% | ||||||||||||||
| Battagram | 50.09% | 64.69% | 35.34% | 50.09% | ... | ||||||||||||||
| Buner | 54.75% | 70.61% | 39.40% | 54.75% | ... | ||||||||||||||
| Charsadda | 64.94% | 76.55% | 52.36% | 64.73% | 70.07% | ||||||||||||||
| Central Dir District | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ||||||||||||||
| Dera Ismail Khan | 57.58% | 68.14% | 45.71% | 52.01% | 79.80% | ||||||||||||||
| Hangu | 54.15% | 76.04% | 34.02% | 51.73% | 70.70% | ||||||||||||||
| Haripur | 85.88% | 94.13% | 77.61% | 85.31% | 95.39% | ||||||||||||||
| Karak | 76.36% | 94.12% | 57.60% | 75.88% | 81.51% | ||||||||||||||
| Khyber | 49.45% | 68.08% | 29.16% | 48.37% | 70.44% | ||||||||||||||
| Kohat | 69.55% | 86.38% | 52.28% | 66.38% | 82.33% | ||||||||||||||
| Kolai Palas | 29.80% | 34.24% | 25.14% | 29.80% | ... | ||||||||||||||
| Kurram | 46.22% | 59.39% | 32.65% | 45.53% | 56.42% | ||||||||||||||
| Lakki Marwat | 59.47% | 77.36% | 40.95% | 58.91% | 71.77% | ||||||||||||||
| Lower Chitral | 77.10% | 86.81% | 66.77% | 75.64% | 87.17% | ||||||||||||||
| Lower Dir | 68.36% | 82.57% | 55.16% | 67.92% | 81.35% | ||||||||||||||
| Lower Kohistan | 33.05% | 43.32% | 22.32% | 33.05% | ... | ||||||||||||||
| Malakand | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ||||||||||||||
| Mansehra | 74.79% | 85.33% | 64.02% | 74.17% | 90.12% | ||||||||||||||
| Mardan | 66.79% | 78.31% | 54.66% | 66.19% | 73.59% | ||||||||||||||
| Mohmand | 42.28% | 56.85% | 27.10% | 42.28% | ... | ||||||||||||||
| North Waziristan | 43.82% | 56.94% | 30.03% | 43.65% | 74.44% | ||||||||||||||
| Nowshera | 67.78% | 78.53% | 56.49% | 65.90% | 78.23% | ||||||||||||||
| Orakzai | 44.57% | 60.70% | 26.97% | 44.57% | ... | ||||||||||||||
| Peshawar | 64.28% | 74.91% | 53.09% | 59.20% | 71.82% | ||||||||||||||
| Shangla | 44.74% | 58.82% | 29.82% | 44.74% | ... | ||||||||||||||
| Upper South Waziristan | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ||||||||||||||
| Lower South Waziristan | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ||||||||||||||
| Swabi | 69.48% | 82.34% | 55.50% | 67.56% | 72.63% | ||||||||||||||
| Swat | 59.13% | 71.83% | 45.95% | 55.55% | 68.72% | ||||||||||||||
| Tank | 51.67% | 66.89% | 35.18% | 49.56% | 74.87% | ||||||||||||||
| Torghar | 40.74% | 56.58% | 24.46% | 40.74% | ... | ||||||||||||||
| Upper Chitral | 84.83% | 94.87% | 74.11% | 84.83% | ... | ||||||||||||||
| Upper Dir | 57.77% | 72.76% | 43.67% | 57.04% | 71.92% | ||||||||||||||
| Upper Kohistan | 30.05% | 37.46% | 22.28% | 30.05% | ... | ||||||||||||||
| Badin | 47.65% | 56.46% | 38.00% | 43.52% | 63.67% | ||||||||||||||
| Dadu | 58.13% | 65.26% | 50.70% | 51.84% | 77.69% | ||||||||||||||
| Ghotki | 52.38% | 65.32% | 38.27% | 48.53% | 67.69% | ||||||||||||||
| Hyderabad | 78.21% | 80.86% | 75.08% | 49.10% | 82.91% | ||||||||||||||
| Jacobabad | 53.34% | 61.77% | 44.65% | 45.00% | 72.31% | ||||||||||||||
| Jamshoro | 60.63% | 67.01% | 53.63% | 50.70% | 71.41% | ||||||||||||||
| Karachi Central | 94.55% | 94.62% | 94.47% | ... | 94.55% | ||||||||||||||
| Karachi East | 91.07% | 91.31% | 90.65% | ... | 91.07% | ||||||||||||||
| Karachi South | 89.57% | 90.76% | 88.05% | ... | 89.57% | ||||||||||||||
| Karachi West | 78.43% | 79.75% | 76.79% | 64.22% | 78.98% | ||||||||||||||
| Kashmore | 46.59% | 55.08% | 37.72% | 40.58% | 64.97% | ||||||||||||||
| Keamari | 73.07% | 76.86% | 68.51% | ... | 73.07% | ||||||||||||||
| Khairpur | 61.14% | 71.84% | 50.10% | 56.68% | 70.78% | ||||||||||||||
| Korangi | 90.86% | 91.27% | 90.29% | ... | 91.86% | ||||||||||||||
| Larkana | 66.58% | 75.34% | 56.96% | 59.10% | 75.46% | ||||||||||||||
| Malir | 74.14% | 77.74% | 69.84% | 68.48% | 80.26% | ||||||||||||||
| Matiari | 56.88% | 66.34% | 47.12% | 52.61% | 72.03% | ||||||||||||||
| Mirpur Khas | 56.37% | 65.04% | 46.75% | 46.81% | 78.82% | ||||||||||||||
| Naushahro Feroze | 68.15% | 77.58% | 58.36% | 65.20% | 76.43% | ||||||||||||||
| Qambar Shahdadkot | 51.02% | 58.94% | 42.35% | 47.65% | 60.85% | ||||||||||||||
| Sanghar | 54.66% | 63.11% | 45.85% | 46.84% | 75.13% | ||||||||||||||
| Shaheed Benazirabad | 61.86% | 71.07% | 52.29% | 55.87% | 74.91% | ||||||||||||||
| Shikarpur | 54.70% | 62.59% | 46.65% | 47.13% | 79.36% | ||||||||||||||
| Sujawal | 38.02% | 43.70% | 31.66% | 34.00% | 75.40% | ||||||||||||||
| Sukkur | 69.26% | 78.10% | 59.20% | 57.24% | 80.55% | ||||||||||||||
| Tando Allahyar | 50.80% | 57.82% | 43.48% | 44.39% | 64.90% | ||||||||||||||
| Tando Muhammad Khan | 45.02% | 52.34% | 37.02% | 40.22% | 63.05% | ||||||||||||||
| Tharparkar | 47.39% | 58.50% | 35.49% | 45.73% | 73.00% | ||||||||||||||
| Thatta | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ||||||||||||||
| Umerkot[17] | 49.69% | 61.17% | 37.11% | 44.35% | 68.31% | ||||||||||||||
| Awaran | 47.34% | 54.28% | 39.95% | 45.23% | 54.93% | ||||||||||||||
| Barkhan | 44.62% | 51.63% | 36.93% | 43.63% | 67.93% | ||||||||||||||
| Chagai | 44.15% | 51.90% | 35.57% | 42.97% | 67.88% | ||||||||||||||
| Chaman | 50.97% | 57.73% | 42.60% | 47.18% | 61.36% | ||||||||||||||
| Dera Bugti | 35.07% | 44.40% | 23.88% | 27.89% | 51.70% | ||||||||||||||
| Duki | 55.18% | 63.91% | 45.43% | 55.01% | 73.51% | ||||||||||||||
| Gwadar | 61.30% | 67.62% | 54.19% | 54.48% | 67.12% | ||||||||||||||
| Harnai | 50.83% | 58.91% | 40.71% | 46.06% | 66.21% | ||||||||||||||
| Hub | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ||||||||||||||
| Jafarabad | 46.53% | 54.43% | 38.37% | 40.68% | 59.84% | ||||||||||||||
| Jhal Magsi | 41.14% | 47.89% | 34.09% | 39.15% | 60.50% | ||||||||||||||
| Kachhi | 41.20% | 46.47% | 35.29% | 37.21% | 62.27% | ||||||||||||||
| Kalat | 50.70% | 59.54% | 41.41% | 45.94% | 78.49% | ||||||||||||||
| Kech | 60.65% | 65.23% | 55.46% | 55.77% | 70.22% | ||||||||||||||
| Kharan | 52.07% | 61.78% | 40.36% | 48.21% | 61.18% | ||||||||||||||
| Khuzdar | 49.59% | 54.91% | 43.42% | 40.76% | 63.74% | ||||||||||||||
| Kohlu | 39.53% | 42.65% | 35.93% | 37.62% | 75.11% | ||||||||||||||
| Lasbela | 47.47% | 55.86% | 38.48% | 39.03% | 55.94% | ||||||||||||||
| Loralai | 54.16% | 64.27% | 42.81% | 48.93% | 74.54% | ||||||||||||||
| Mastung | 56.97% | 67.26% | 45.27% | 54.46% | 78.28% | ||||||||||||||
| Musakhel | 47.60% | 57.50% | 36.72% | 46.35% | 70.61% | ||||||||||||||
| Nasirabad | 39.96% | 46.43% | 33.18% | 36.36% | 58.34% | ||||||||||||||
| Nushki | 68.12% | 79.24% | 56.16% | 66.16% | 76.33% | ||||||||||||||
| Panjgur | 53.07% | 55.80% | 49.80% | 52.81% | 46.43% | ||||||||||||||
| Pishin | 62.07% | 75.85% | 48.05% | 60.94% | 66.10% | ||||||||||||||
| Quetta | 67.29% | 75.06% | 58.96% | 59.10% | 72.95% | ||||||||||||||
| Qila Abdullah | 47.40% | 57.28% | 36.70% | 48.59% | 46.72% | ||||||||||||||
| Qilla Saifullah | 43.96% | 53.93% | 33.24% | 40.07% | 60.90% | ||||||||||||||
| Sherani | 34.86% | 41.53% | 27.02% | 34.86% | ... | ||||||||||||||
| Sibi | 58.41% | 65.72% | 50.63% | 48.61% | 78.33% | ||||||||||||||
| Sohbatpur | 52.02% | 63.26% | 40.42% | 51.27% | 62.11% | ||||||||||||||
| Surab | 48.44% | 54.16% | 40.58% | 47.97% | 57.40% | ||||||||||||||
| Washuk | 32.58% | 36.76% | 27.76% | 32.86% | 30.65% | ||||||||||||||
| Zhob | 47.62% | 55.24% | 38.81% | 43.33% | 80.18% | ||||||||||||||
| Ziarat | 54.37% | 63.06% | 44.49% | 53.83% | 57.60% | ||||||||||||||
| Usta Muhammad | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ||||||||||||||
| Attock | 81.22% | 89.69% | 72.66% | 79.22% | 88.18% | ||||||||||||||
| Bahawalnagar | 68.01% | 73.55% | 60.95% | 63.51% | 80.84% | ||||||||||||||
| Bahawalpur | 64.35% | 69.40% | 59.09% | 56.21% | 77.69% | ||||||||||||||
| Bhakkar | 66.68% | 76.81% | 55.87% | 64.04% | 81.67% | ||||||||||||||
| Chakwal | 88.79% | 96.12% | 81.52% | 86.92% | 90.43% | ||||||||||||||
| Chiniot | 66.05% | 74.64% | 57.19% | 60.37% | 78.91% | ||||||||||||||
| Dera Ghazi Khan | 57.78% | 66.17% | 49.20% | 52.56% | 75.05% | ||||||||||||||
| Faisalabad | 84.41% | 87.34% | 81.11% | 78.02% | 91.03% | ||||||||||||||
| Gujranwala | 87.77% | 88.14% | 87.36% | 84.84% | 89.35% | ||||||||||||||
| Gujrat | 92.37% | 94.81% | 89.95% | 91.39% | 94.19% | ||||||||||||||
| Hafizabad | 76.77% | 80.70% | 72.65% | 73.15% | 83.16% | ||||||||||||||
| Jhang | 70.45% | 79.09% | 61.14% | 66.05% | 83.98% | ||||||||||||||
| Jhelum | 91.65% | 96.55% | 86.53% | 90.27% | 94.41% | ||||||||||||||
| Kasur | 73.85% | 77.97% | 69.44% | 72.27% | 78.60% | ||||||||||||||
| Khanewal | 71.97% | 79.26% | 64.18% | 68.27% | 87.56% | ||||||||||||||
| Khushab | 73.52% | 85.59% | 61.03% | 70.60% | 82.70% | ||||||||||||||
| Lahore | 90.62% | 91.41% | 89.59% | ... | 90.62% | ||||||||||||||
| Layyah | 72.83% | 80.91% | 64.21% | 70.67% | 85.13% | ||||||||||||||
| Lodhran | 62.68% | 70.63% | 54.12% | 60.40% | 77.34% | ||||||||||||||
| Mandi Bahauddin | 81.27% | 84.89% | 77.70% | 79.71% | 91.23% | ||||||||||||||
| Mianwali | 73.87% | 87.58% | 59.63% | 72.44% | 82.18% | ||||||||||||||
| Multan | 72.41% | 77.28% | 66.27% | 61.35% | 84.55% | ||||||||||||||
| Muzaffargarh | 58.99% | 65.95% | 51.72% | 56.05% | 74.06% | ||||||||||||||
| Nankana Sahib | 74.12% | 78.38% | 69.63% | 71.86% | 85.86% | ||||||||||||||
| Narowal | 86.28% | 89.89% | 82.49% | 85.83% | 91.77% | ||||||||||||||
| Okara | 71.25% | 76.52% | 65.71% | 65.88% | 82.36% | ||||||||||||||
| Pakpattan | 68.13% | 74.70% | 60.27% | 65.00% | 81.12% | ||||||||||||||
| Rahim Yar Khan | 58.94% | 65.14% | 52.15% | 52.22% | 80.70% | ||||||||||||||
| Rajanpur | 47.09% | 53.68% | 40.18% | 39.39% | 67.42% | ||||||||||||||
| Rawalpindi | 94.22% | 97.90% | 90.36% | 92.66% | 94.41% | ||||||||||||||
| Sahiwal | 75.77% | 81.06% | 70.29% | 71.69% | 88.60% | ||||||||||||||
| Sargodha | 77.73% | 83.63% | 71.62% | 72.61% | 86.82% | ||||||||||||||
| Sheikhupura | 79.88% | 82.09% | 77.46% | 77.24% | 84.65% | ||||||||||||||
| Sialkot | 89.37% | 90.24% | 88.50% | 87.94% | 93.31% | ||||||||||||||
| Toba Tek Singh | 82.38% | 86.37% | 78.13% | 80.30% | 91.82% | ||||||||||||||
| Vehari | 70.10% | 76.43% | 63.57% | 65.73% | 83.61% | ||||||||||||||
| Talagang | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ||||||||||||||
| Murree | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ||||||||||||||
| Tonsa | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ||||||||||||||
| Kot Addu | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ||||||||||||||
| Wazirabad | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ||||||||||||||
| Islamabad Capital Territory | 94.97% | 98.23% | 91.13% | 92.88% | 94.91% | ||||||||||||||
Mean Years of Schooling in Pakistan by administrative unit
| Unit[18] | 1990 | 1995 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2012 | 2015 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azad Jammu & Kashmir | 3.78 | 4.59  |
5.42 |
7.47 |
7.22  |
7.35 |
6.92 |
6.51 |
| Balochistan | 1.77 | 2.15 |
2.53 |
3.49 |
3.25 |
3.14 |
3.17 |
3.10 |
| FATA | 1.42 | 1.73 |
2.04 |
2.81 |
2.71 |
2.69 |
2.60 |
2.45 |
| Gilgit-Baltistan | 2.01 | 2.44 |
2.88 |
3.97 |
3.84 |
3.80 |
4.59 |
5.17 |
| Islamabad (ICT) | 4.16 | 5.05 |
5.96 |
8.21 |
9.67 |
10.70 |
9.62 |
8.34 |
| Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | 1.83 | 2.22 |
2.62 |
3.62 |
3.80 |
3.97 |
3.95 |
3.82 |
| Punjab | 1.96 | 2.38 |
2.81 |
3.88 |
4.44 |
4.85 |
5.23 |
5.41 |
| Sindh | 2.43 | 2.95 |
3.48 |
4.79 |
5.19 |
5.51 |
5.35 |
5.05 |
| Pakistan | 2.28 | 2.77 |
3.27 |
4.51 |
4.68 |
4.85 |
5.09 |
5.16 |
Literacy rates and development
Pakistan literacy rate is lower than other neighbours of it in South Asia at 63 percent, the second lowest in South Asia after Afghanistan which has a literacy rate of 37%. The male literacy rate is 73 percent and the female literacy rate is 54 percent. The female literacy rate drops to twenty-five percent in rural areas of Pakistan including Waziristan and Tharparkar. Girls' school enrollment also significantly drops in the rural areas of Pakistan. The enrollment rate for girls in rural areas is only twenty percent in grade school. Sixty-five percent of Pakistan's population is made up of rural citizens. Citizens in Pakistan face issues that affect their quality of life. Issues such as illiteracy are linked to poverty and lack of basic needs.
Parents with lower literacy skills struggle to understand health recommendations that can affect the development of their children. Malnutrition is a problem for children of parents who do not have a formal education status. Uneducated parents may not know the necessary proper nutrition needed for their children to adequately grow and develop. Malnutrition is associated with mothers who are illiterate and unaware of correct feeding practices.[19] There are several factors that contribute to the low education levels in Pakistan. Among the primary catalysts are unemployment, poverty, lack of awareness, teachers' absenteeism, a scarcity of quality educational institutions, and insufficient government oversight of educational institutions.[20]
