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Data instruments used to estimate literacy

About this data

Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2017) – processed by Our World in Data
Last updated
February 20, 2018
Date range
1975–2016

Sources and processing

This data is based on the following sources

UNESCO Institute for Statistics – UNESCO metadata on literacy

The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) collects cross-national education statistics. Data on literacy rates come from a variety of sources (such as national censuses and surveys) and reporting modes (self-reporting vs household declarations).

Data instruments used to estimate literacy are grouped under three main types: i) a census; ii) a survey; or iii) indirect estimates. Indirect estimates are extrapolated - based on educational attainment, or estimated based on the country's census.

Methodologies used for measuring literacy have been grouped into four categories: household declarations, self declarations, literacy tests, and national estimates. Both household and self-declared literacy are self-reports; in the former, it is the head of the household responding to the survey, and in the latter it is directly reported by the individuals themselves.

UNESCO categorised Chile's (2009) and the Philippines' (2003) mode of literacy reporting as 'Household/Self declaration'. We have categorised the two countries under the household declaration category.

Retrieved on
February 20, 2018
Retrieved from
http://data.uis.unesco.org/
Citation
This is the citation of the original data obtained from the source, prior to any processing or adaptation by Our World in Data. To cite data downloaded from this page, please use the suggested citation given in Reuse This Work below.
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) (2017). UNESCO metadata on literacy.

The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) collects cross-national education statistics. Data on literacy rates come from a variety of sources (such as national censuses and surveys) and reporting modes (self-reporting vs household declarations).

Data instruments used to estimate literacy are grouped under three main types: i) a census; ii) a survey; or iii) indirect estimates. Indirect estimates are extrapolated - based on educational attainment, or estimated based on the country's census.

Methodologies used for measuring literacy have been grouped into four categories: household declarations, self declarations, literacy tests, and national estimates. Both household and self-declared literacy are self-reports; in the former, it is the head of the household responding to the survey, and in the latter it is directly reported by the individuals themselves.

UNESCO categorised Chile's (2009) and the Philippines' (2003) mode of literacy reporting as 'Household/Self declaration'. We have categorised the two countries under the household declaration category.

Retrieved on
February 20, 2018
Retrieved from
http://data.uis.unesco.org/
Citation
This is the citation of the original data obtained from the source, prior to any processing or adaptation by Our World in Data. To cite data downloaded from this page, please use the suggested citation given in Reuse This Work below.
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) (2017). UNESCO metadata on literacy.

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All data and visualizations on Our World in Data rely on data sourced from one or several original data providers. Preparing this original data involves several processing steps. Depending on the data, this can include standardizing country names and world region definitions, converting units, calculating derived indicators such as per capita measures, as well as adding or adapting metadata such as the name or the description given to an indicator.

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Citations

How to cite this page

To cite this page overall, including any descriptions, FAQs or explanations of the data authored by Our World in Data, please use the following citation:

“Data Page: Data instruments used to estimate literacy”. Our World in Data (2026). Data adapted from UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved from https://archive.ourworldindata.org/20260511-092124/grapher/literacy-rate-source-type.html [online resource] (archived on May 11, 2026).

How to cite this data

In-line citationIf you have limited space (e.g. in data visualizations), you can use this abbreviated in-line citation:

UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2017) – processed by Our World in Data

Full citation

UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2017) – processed by Our World in Data. “Data instruments used to estimate literacy” [dataset]. UNESCO Institute for Statistics, “UNESCO metadata on literacy” [original data]. Retrieved May 11, 2026 from https://archive.ourworldindata.org/20260511-092124/grapher/literacy-rate-source-type.html (archived on May 11, 2026).

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