Definitions of literacy
Antigua and Barbuda
Cyprus
Literacy was defined in 2001 by the population census.
Literacy is defined based on answers given to the following
question: ‘Can you read and write simple sentences?’
Mode: Self declaration
Year: 2011
Data Source: Census 2001
Bangladesh
A literate person is defined in the 2001 Population Census as: ‘A
person who is able to write a letter in any language.’
Mode: Self declaration
Year: 2011
Data Source: GALP
Botswana
Literacy, as defined in the 2003 Literacy Survey is: ‘Literacy is a
responsive and context specific multi-dimensional lifelong learning
process designed to equip beneficiaries with specialised knowledge,
skills, attitudes and techniques to independently engage in
practices and genres involving listening, speaking, reading, writing,
numeracy, technical functioning and critical thinking required in
real life.’
Mode: Self declaration
Year: 2011
Data Source: GALP
Brunei Darussalam
Mode: Household declaration
Year: 2011
Data Source: Population census
Ghana
Literacy was defined based on answers given to the following
question: ‘In what language can (NAME) read and write? 1. None
(not literate); 2. English only; 3. Ghanaian language only; 4. English
and Ghanaian language; 5. English and French; 6. English, French
and Ghanaian language; 7. Other (specify)’
Mode: Self declaration
Year: 2010
Data Source: Census
Guyana
UIS estimate based on 2009 Demographic and Health Survey data
with assessment of reading skills of male and female population
15–49 years. Literacy rates based on a reading assessment are likely
to be lower than literacy rates based on self or household
declaration.
Mode: Literacy test
Year: 2009
Data Source: DHS/GALP
Literacy is defined in the 2001 population census as: ‘The ability of
a person to read and write a simple letter or to read a newspaper
column in one or two languages.’
India
Mode: Household declaration
Year: 2011
Data Source: GALP
Mode: Self declaration
Year: 2006
Data Source: DHS
Cameroon
Jamaica
Literacy is defined based on answers given to the following
question: ‘Can [name] read and write one of the following
languages? (a) French (yes/no); (b) English (yes/no); (c) Arabic
(yes/no); (d) a national (local) language’
Illiteracy as defined in the 1999 Jamaica Adult Literacy Survey:
‘Illiterate persons are those considered to have a very limited
knowledge of the alphabetic system, and so may be able to
identify (read) a few frequently used words but cannot understand
a group of words in a phrase or a sentence. Such persons may
write a few letters of the alphabet.’
Mode: Household declaration
Year: 2010
Data Source: Survey of Employment and the Informal Sector
Literacy is defined as the ability to read and write.
Mode: Self declaration
Year: 2011
Data Source: GALP
Commonwealth Education Partnerships 2013
377
Definitions of literacy
Kenya
Malta
UIS (UNESCO Institute for Statistics) estimate based on 2008–09
Demographic and Health Survey data with assessment of reading
skills of male population 15–54 years and female population 15–49
years. Literacy rates based on a reading assessment are likely to be
lower than literacy rates based on self or household declaration.
Literacy is defined as the ability to read and write a simple sentence
about everyday life in any language.
Mode: Literacy test
Year: 2007
Data Source: DHS/GALP
Lesotho
UIS estimate based on 2009 Demographic and Health Survey data
with assessment of reading skills of male population 15–59 years
and female population 15–49 years. Literacy rates based on a
reading assessment are likely to be lower than literacy rates based
on self or household declaration.
Mode: Self declaration
Year: 2005
Data Source: Census
Mauritius
Literacy as defined in the 2000 population census: ‘A person is
considered as literate if he or she was able, with understanding, to
both read and write a simple statement on his or her everyday life.’
Mode: Household declaration
Year: 2011
Data Source: GALP
Mozambique
Mode: Literacy test
Year: 2009
Data Source: DHS/GALP
Literacy is defined based on answers given to the following
question: ‘Can you read and write?’
Malawi
Mode: Self declaration
Year: 2009
Data Source: Budget Survey of Family 2008–09
UIS estimate based on 2010 Demographic and Health Survey data
with assessment of reading skills of male population 15–54 years
and female population 15–49 years. Literacy rates based on a
reading assessment are likely to be lower than literacy rates based
on self or household declaration.
Mode: Literacy test
Year: 2010
Data Source: DHS/GALP
Malaysia
Literacy rate is worked out based on the percentage of the
population attending school.
Mode: Self declaration
Year: 2010
Data Source: LFS
Maldives
Literate persons are defined as those who can simply read and
write a local language.
Mode: Self declaration
Year: 2006
Data Source: Population census
Namibia
UIS estimate based on 2006–07 Demographic and Health Survey
data with assessment of reading skills of male and female
population 15–49 years. Literacy rates based on a reading
assessment are likely to be lower than literacy rates based on selfor household declaration.
Mode: Literacy test
Year: 2007
Data Source: DHS/GALP
Nigeria
UIS estimate based on 2008 Demographic and Health Survey data
with assessment of reading skills of male population 15–59 years
and female population 15–49 years. Literacy rates based on a
reading assessment are likely to be lower than literacy rates based
on self- or household declaration.
Mode: Literacy test
Year: 2008
Data Source: DHS/GALP
Pakistan
A literate person is defined as ‘one who can read newspaper and
write a simple letter in any language’.
Mode: Household declaration
Year: 2009
Data Source: LFS
378
Commonwealth Education Partnerships 2013
Definitions of literacy
Papua New Guinea
Singapore
Literacy as defined in the 2000 population census is the ability to
‘read and write with understanding at least one of English, Motu,
or Tokples’.
Literacy was defined based on answers given to the following
question: What language(s) is this person able to read in, e.g.
newspaper?
Mode: Household declaration
Year: 2011
Data Source: GALP
Mode: Household declaration
Year: 2010
Data Source: Population census
Rwanda
South Africa
UIS estimate based on 2010 Demographic and Health Survey data
with assessment of reading skills of male population 15–59 years
and female population 15–49 years. Literacy rates based on a
reading assessment are likely to be lower than literacy rates based
on self- or household declaration.
Literacy is defined based on answers given to the following
question: Does [the respondent] have difficulty in: (a) Reading (e.g.
newspapers, magazines, religious books) in at least one language
(b) Writing a letter in at least one language. Answer: 1 = no
difficulty; 2= some difficulty; 3= a lot of difficulty; 4= Unable to do;
5= Do not know. Being ‘literate’ is defined as being able to read
AND write with ‘no difficulty’ or with ‘some difficulty’. If a person
indicates that he/she can read with ‘no difficulty’, but that he/she
has a lot of difficulty to write, or is unable to write, he/she is
classified as ‘illiterate’.
Mode: Literacy test
Year: 2010
Data Source: DHS/GALP
Samoa
Literacy is defined in the 1991 population census: ‘A person is
defined as literate if he or she can, with understanding, both read
and write a short, simple statement on his or her everyday life.’
Mode: Household declaration
Year: 2011
Data Source: GALP
Seychelles
Literacy is defined in the 2002 population census: ‘The ability to
read or write a simple sentence in English, French or Creole.’
Mode: Household declaration
Year: 2011
Data Source: Population census 2002
Sierra Leone
Literacy is defined in the 2004 Population Census: ‘The ability to
read and write in any language.’
Mode: Household declaration
Year: 2011
Data Source: GALP
Mode: Self declaration
Year: 2011
Data Source: General House Survey
Sri Lanka
A literate person is defined as: ‘A person who can both read and
write with understanding a short statement… A person who can
read and write only his name, figures or memorized phrase should
not be considered as “literate”.’
Mode: Self declaration
Year: 2010
Data Source: LFS
Swaziland
Literacy is defined in the 1986 population census: ‘A person is
defined as literate if he or she can, with understanding, both read
and write a short, simple statement on his or her everyday life.’
Mode: Household declaration
Year: 2011
Data Source: GALP
Tonga
Literacy is defined as the ability to read and write a simple sentence
in Tongan or English.
Mode: Household declaration
Year: 2006
Data Source: Population census
Commonwealth Education Partnerships 2013
379
Definitions of literacy
Trinidad and Tobago
Vanuatu
Literacy as defined in the 1990 population census: ‘A person is
defined as literate if he or she can, with understanding, both read
and write a short, simple statement on his or her everyday life.’
Literacy as defined in the 1979 population census: ‘A person is
defined as literate if he or she can, with understanding, both read
and write a short, simple statement on his or her everyday life.’
Mode: Household declaration
Year: 2011
Data Source: GALP
Mode: Household declaration
Year: 2011
Data Source: GALP
Uganda
Zambia
Literacy is defined as being able to read and write with
understanding in any language.
UIS estimate based on 2007 Demographic and Health Survey data
with assessment of reading skills of male population 15–59 years
and female population 15–49 years. Literacy rates based on a
reading assessment are likely to be lower than literacy rates based
on self or household declaration.
Mode: Household declaration
Year: 2010
Data Source: National Household Survey
United Republic of Tanzania
UIS estimate based on 2010 Demographic and Health Survey data
with assessment of reading skills of male and female population
15–49 years. Literacy rates based on a reading assessment are likely
to be lower than literacy rates based on self or household
declaration.
Mode: Literacy test
Year: 2010
Data Source: DHS/GALP
380
Commonwealth Education Partnerships 2013
Mode: Literacy test
Year: 2007
Data Source: DHS/GALP
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics – Education Indicators and
Data Analysis Unit as of May 2013
Notes: DHS: Demographic and Health Survey
(http://www.measuredhs.com). GALP: UIS estimate derived from its
Global Age-specific Literacy Projections Model (GALP). LFS: Labour
Force Survey – not available