Closing the Literacy Gender Gap

International Literacy Day, celebrated on September 8 each year, is a global observance dedicated to promoting the significance of literacy as a human right and a powerful driver of sustainable development. Literacy is a key ingredient of personal development and social progress because it empowers people to access education and information, enabling them to make informed decisions and participate fully in society. It also plays a pivotal role in reducing poverty, improving health outcomes and fostering gender equality. Without basic education, women and girls are cut off from access to information and opportunities for personal development, potentially keeping them from fully participating in society and cementing traditional gender roles.

While a lot of progress has been made in ensuring equal access to education for girls and boys, the literacy gender gap persists to this day. At the global level, the literacy rate for women aged 15 and older stood at 84 percent in 2022, compared to 90 percent for men of the same age. While that is a huge improvement compared to adult literacy rates of 57 percent (female) and 75 percent (male) in 1976, the remaining gap still means that a significantly higher number of women lack a skill so essential that it’s considered a human right.

According to UNESCO data, the female adult literacy rates in low-income countries was 54 percent in 2022, compared to 70 percent for men. In some countries like Afghanistan, little more than 2 in 10 women aged 15 and older know how to read and write – a deficit that could stand in the way of gender equality for decades.