|
Years |
First |
Second |
Third |
GER | |
|
Level |
Level |
Level |
Level 1 | ||
|
All Developing Countries |
1970-5 |
5.3 |
7.7 |
11.9 |
92.8 |
|
1975-80 |
2.2 |
5.7 |
7.1 |
94.9 | |
|
1980-88 |
1.1 |
3.1 |
4.5 |
98.1 | |
|
Sub Saharan Africa |
1970-5 |
7.4 |
14.3 |
13.3 |
58.1 |
|
1975-80 |
9.4 |
14.4 |
14.0 |
77.1 | |
|
1980-88 |
1.8 |
4.3 |
8.1 |
66.7 | |
|
Arab States |
1970-5 |
5.7 |
10.2 |
15.1 |
73.1 |
|
1975-80 |
4.4 |
8.8 |
10.4 |
79.9 | |
|
1980-88 |
4.0 |
5.9 |
5.6 |
83.4 | |
|
Latin America Caribbean |
1970-5 |
5.1 |
3.4 |
17.3 |
97.0 |
|
1975-80 |
2.9 |
6.9 |
6.0 |
104.8 | |
|
1980-88 |
1.5 |
3.7 |
4.7 |
109.3 | |
|
Eastern Asia Oceania |
1970-5 |
6.9 |
11.7 |
11.4 |
113.2 |
|
1975-80 |
0.6 |
5.2 |
15.5 |
109.7 | |
|
1980-88 |
0.8 |
0.7 |
7.3 |
119.9 | |
|
South Asia |
1970-5 |
3.6 |
4.6 |
9.5 |
75.8 |
|
1975-80 |
2.2 |
4.6 |
3.5 |
77.0 | |
|
1980-88 |
3.5 |
6.0 |
1.1 |
88.4 | |
|
Least Developed Countries |
1970-5 |
7.7 |
8.3 |
8.3 | |
|
1975-80 |
5.4 |
5.0 |
11.1 | ||
|
1980-88 |
3.5 |
4.5 |
6.8 |
Note First level GERs are for 1975, 1980 and 1990 (projected).
Source: UNESCO 1991 Tables 2.4, 2.5)
Literacy rates have been increasing and in most developing countries literacy amongst
15-19 year olds is greater than in the adult population as a whole suggesting this trend
will continue. However in Sub Saharan Africa (47%), the Arab States (51%) and South
Asia (46%) adult literacy is still low. Illiteracy is concentrated amongst women - in the
least developed countries adult literacy rates for women are 28% compared to 51% for
men (UNESCO 1991:26). India and China account for about 53% of adult illiterates