Adult learning and reskilling
Adult literacy, enrolment and life expectancy — the figures behind a second start.
Most of the decisions in the simulation after the first job are about what happens next: retraining, moving, starting something of your own. The indicators here describe the starting position for that: how much of the population can read and write, how much of the next generation is still in school, and how long people are expected to live.
Adult literacy rate
A higher value means a larger share of adults can read and write. 113 countries report this indicator.
Among the 113 countries reporting adult literacy rate, the figure runs from 30.6% (Chad, 2019) to 100.0% (Tuvalu, 2022), with a median of 91.1%. The middle half of the countries fall between 51.6% and 99.5%.
- Lowest reported
- 30.6%
- Chad · 2019
- Median
- 91.1%
- across 113 countries
- Highest reported
- 100.0%
- Tuvalu · 2022
- Middle half
- 51.6% – 99.5%
- 10th–90th percentile
Secondary school enrolment
A higher value means more of each cohort is enrolled in secondary school. 179 countries report this indicator.
Among the 179 countries reporting secondary school enrolment, the figure runs from 3.3% (Somalia, Fed. Rep., 2023) to 158.5% (Monaco, 2024), with a median of 92.4%. The middle half of the countries fall between 46.9% and 118.7%.
- Lowest reported
- 3.3%
- Somalia, Fed. Rep. · 2023
- Median
- 92.4%
- across 179 countries
- Highest reported
- 158.5%
- Monaco · 2024
- Middle half
- 46.9% – 118.7%
- 10th–90th percentile
Life expectancy at birth
A higher value means a newborn is expected to live more years. 217 countries report this indicator.
Among the 217 countries reporting life expectancy at birth, the figure runs from 54.6 (Nigeria, 2024) to 86.5 (Monaco, 2024), with a median of 74.7. The middle half of the countries fall between 63.8 and 83.1.
- Lowest reported
- 54.6 years
- Nigeria · 2024
- Median
- 74.7 years
- across 217 countries
- Highest reported
- 86.5 years
- Monaco · 2024
- Middle half
- 63.8 years – 83.1 years
- 10th–90th percentile
What makes a second start possible?
Each row is one country, with the year its figure was observed. The regions are the World Bank's own groupings.
East Asia & Pacific (37)
| Country | Adult literacy rate | Secondary school enrolment | Life expectancy at birth |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Samoa | 73.0 years (2024) | ||
| Australia | 131.9% (2024) | 83.1 years (2024) | |
| Brunei Darussalam | 91.8% (2023) | 75.5 years (2024) | |
| Cambodia | 71.9% (2021) | 58.8% (2024) | 70.8 years (2024) |
| China | 96.7% (2020) | 78.0 years (2024) | |
| Fiji | 98.1% (2024) | 67.5 years (2024) | |
| French Polynesia | 84.2 years (2024) | ||
| Guam | 77.4 years (2024) | ||
| Hong Kong SAR, China | 107.2% (2024) | 85.4 years (2024) | |
| Indonesia | 96.0% (2020) | 98.8% (2024) | 71.3 years (2024) |
| Japan | 101.5% (2023) | 84.0 years (2024) | |
| Kiribati | 98.6% (2020) | 90.3% (2024) | 66.6 years (2024) |
| Korea, Dem. People's Rep. | 73.7 years (2024) | ||
| Korea, Rep. | 96.3% (2024) | 83.6 years (2024) | |
| Lao PDR | 75.6% (2023) | 51.9% (2024) | 69.2 years (2024) |
| Macao SAR, China | 94.7% (2024) | 83.3 years (2024) | |
| Malaysia | 95.8% (2022) | 80.3% (2024) | 76.8 years (2024) |
| Marshall Islands | 95.8% (2021) | 85.8% (2024) | 67.1 years (2024) |
| Micronesia, Fed. Sts. | 67.4 years (2024) | ||
| Mongolia | 98.6% (2024) | 96.8% (2023) | 72.4 years (2024) |
| Myanmar | 93.5% (2020) | 77.0% (2018) | 67.1 years (2024) |
| Naoero | 96.6% (2023) | 91.5% (2024) | 62.3 years (2024) |
| New Caledonia | 78.9 years (2024) | ||
| New Zealand | 114.2% (2024) | 82.0 years (2024) | |
| Northern Mariana Islands | 78.9 years (2024) | ||
| Palau | 99.8% (2020) | 95.7% (2024) | 69.4 years (2024) |
| Papua New Guinea | 87.0% (2022) | 52.1% (2023) | 66.3 years (2024) |
| Philippines | 98.5% (2020) | 85.3% (2024) | 69.9 years (2024) |
| Samoa | 98.0% (2019) | 71.8 years (2024) | |
| Singapore | 97.7% (2021) | 103.1% (2023) | 83.3 years (2024) |
| Solomon Islands | 70.7 years (2024) | ||
| Thailand | 91.1% (2022) | 92.5% (2024) | 76.6 years (2024) |
| Timor-Leste | 69.4% (2022) | 84.7% (2020) | 67.9 years (2024) |
| Tonga | 99.5% (2023) | 92.4% (2024) | 73.1 years (2024) |
| Tuvalu | 100.0% (2022) | 90.7% (2024) | 67.3 years (2024) |
| Vanuatu | 88.0% (2023) | 134.7% (2023) | 71.7 years (2024) |
| Viet Nam | 96.1% (2022) | 93.4% (2022) | 74.7 years (2024) |
Europe & Central Asia (58)
| Country | Adult literacy rate | Secondary school enrolment | Life expectancy at birth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albania | 97.7% (2023) | 108.4% (2024) | 79.8 years (2024) |
| Andorra | 101.9% (2024) | 84.2 years (2024) | |
| Armenia | 99.8% (2023) | 90.9% (2024) | 78.3 years (2024) |
| Austria | 100.6% (2024) | 82.0 years (2024) | |
| Azerbaijan | 99.8% (2023) | 91.1% (2024) | 74.6 years (2024) |
| Belarus | 99.9% (2019) | 94.8% (2024) | 74.4 years (2024) |
| Belgium | 143.0% (2023) | 82.3 years (2024) | |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 87.9% (2023) | 78.0 years (2024) | |
| Bulgaria | 94.8% (2024) | 75.8 years (2024) | |
| Channel Islands | 81.2 years (2024) | ||
| Croatia | 105.0% (2023) | 78.9 years (2024) | |
| Cyprus | 106.7% (2024) | 81.8 years (2024) | |
| Czechia | 97.6% (2023) | 80.0 years (2024) | |
| Denmark | 125.6% (2024) | 82.3 years (2024) | |
| Estonia | 108.5% (2024) | 79.3 years (2024) | |
| Faroe Islands | 83.1 years (2024) | ||
| Finland | 142.4% (2024) | 82.3 years (2024) | |
| France | 103.8% (2024) | 83.0 years (2024) | |
| Georgia | 99.7% (2024) | 101.0% (2024) | 74.7 years (2024) |
| Germany | 100.2% (2024) | 80.8 years (2024) | |
| Gibraltar | 78.5% (2024) | 83.6 years (2024) | |
| Greece | 105.2% (2023) | 81.8 years (2024) | |
| Greenland | 70.3 years (2024) | ||
| Hungary | 107.4% (2024) | 76.7 years (2024) | |
| Iceland | 108.9% (2023) | 82.8 years (2024) | |
| Ireland | 130.6% (2022) | 83.0 years (2024) | |
| Isle of Man | 81.1 years (2024) | ||
| Italy | 99.3% (2019) | 100.7% (2023) | 84.0 years (2024) |
| Kazakhstan | 97.2% (2024) | 74.5 years (2024) | |
| Kosovo | 78.2 years (2024) | ||
| Kyrgyz Republic | 91.3% (2024) | 72.4 years (2024) | |
| Latvia | 101.3% (2024) | 76.4 years (2024) | |
| Liechtenstein | 118.7% (2021) | 84.2 years (2024) | |
| Lithuania | 104.9% (2024) | 77.2 years (2024) | |
| Luxembourg | 108.6% (2024) | 83.2 years (2024) | |
| Moldova | 99.3% (2024) | 71.3 years (2024) | |
| Monaco | 158.5% (2024) | 86.5 years (2024) | |
| Montenegro | 98.5% (2018) | 93.9% (2023) | 77.9 years (2024) |
| Netherlands | 137.5% (2023) | 82.0 years (2024) | |
| North Macedonia | 90.1% (2023) | 76.6 years (2024) | |
| Norway | 116.3% (2024) | 83.2 years (2024) | |
| Poland | 107.9% (2024) | 78.4 years (2024) | |
| Portugal | 120.3% (2023) | 82.4 years (2024) | |
| Romania | 99.2% (2021) | 81.6% (2023) | 76.5 years (2024) |
| Russian Federation | 99.9% (2021) | 92.5% (2023) | 73.4 years (2024) |
| San Marino | 99.9% (2022) | 60.4% (2024) | 85.8 years (2024) |
| Serbia | 99.3% (2022) | 89.8% (2024) | 76.0 years (2024) |
| Slovak Republic | 93.2% (2024) | 78.4 years (2024) | |
| Slovenia | 107.6% (2023) | 82.3 years (2024) | |
| Spain | 99.7% (2021) | 118.5% (2024) | 83.9 years (2024) |
| Sweden | 132.0% (2024) | 84.1 years (2024) | |
| Switzerland | 101.4% (2024) | 84.4 years (2024) | |
| Tajikistan | 86.9% (2024) | 71.9 years (2024) | |
| Turkiye | 97.3% (2021) | 118.4% (2023) | 77.4 years (2024) |
| Turkmenistan | 99.9% (2022) | 94.6% (2024) | 70.2 years (2024) |
| Ukraine | 86.2% (2024) | 74.7 years (2024) | |
| United Kingdom | 112.1% (2023) | 81.4 years (2024) | |
| Uzbekistan | 100.0% (2022) | 96.8% (2024) | 72.5 years (2024) |
Latin America & Caribbean (42)
| Country | Adult literacy rate | Secondary school enrolment | Life expectancy at birth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antigua and Barbuda | 108.9% (2023) | 77.8 years (2024) | |
| Argentina | 99.1% (2020) | 105.6% (2023) | 77.5 years (2024) |
| Aruba | 124.4% (2024) | 76.5 years (2024) | |
| Bahamas, The | 79.5% (2024) | 74.7 years (2024) | |
| Barbados | 104.4% (2024) | 76.3 years (2024) | |
| Belize | 87.9% (2022) | 86.5% (2024) | 73.7 years (2024) |
| Bolivia | 96.7% (2024) | 90.5% (2024) | 68.7 years (2024) |
| Brazil | 94.7% (2024) | 104.1% (2024) | 76.0 years (2024) |
| British Virgin Islands | 75.6% (2024) | 77.4 years (2024) | |
| Cayman Islands | 84.8% (2024) | 80.5 years (2024) | |
| Chile | 105.6% (2024) | 81.4 years (2024) | |
| Colombia | 95.3% (2024) | 101.6% (2022) | 77.9 years (2024) |
| Costa Rica | 121.8% (2024) | 81.0 years (2024) | |
| Cuba | 97.7% (2019) | 91.7% (2024) | 78.3 years (2024) |
| Curacao | 89.9% (2024) | 77.0 years (2024) | |
| Dominica | 102.6% (2023) | 71.3 years (2024) | |
| Dominican Republic | 94.0% (2024) | 76.4% (2024) | 73.9 years (2024) |
| Ecuador | 93.5% (2024) | 92.8% (2023) | 77.6 years (2024) |
| El Salvador | 89.8% (2024) | 62.1% (2024) | 72.3 years (2024) |
| Grenada | 100.7% (2024) | 75.4 years (2024) | |
| Guatemala | 82.1% (2024) | 49.6% (2024) | 72.7 years (2024) |
| Guyana | 85.6% (2020) | 91.4% (2024) | 70.3 years (2024) |
| Haiti | 65.1 years (2024) | ||
| Honduras | 88.3% (2024) | 51.8% (2024) | 73.0 years (2024) |
| Jamaica | 84.5% (2024) | 71.6 years (2024) | |
| Mexico | 95.5% (2024) | 103.1% (2024) | 75.3 years (2024) |
| Nicaragua | 70.2% (2023) | 75.1 years (2024) | |
| Panama | 96.2% (2024) | 79.8 years (2024) | |
| Paraguay | 94.9% (2024) | 79.1% (2024) | 74.0 years (2024) |
| Peru | 93.7% (2024) | 108.3% (2024) | 77.9 years (2024) |
| Puerto Rico (US) | 81.5% (2024) | 81.9 years (2024) | |
| Sint Maarten (Dutch part) | 76.5 years (2024) | ||
| St. Kitts and Nevis | 137.5% (2023) | 72.3 years (2024) | |
| St. Lucia | 87.9% (2024) | 72.8 years (2024) | |
| St. Martin (French part) | 80.4 years (2024) | ||
| St. Vincent and the Grenadines | 124.9% (2024) | 71.4 years (2024) | |
| Suriname | 76.1% (2023) | 73.8 years (2024) | |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 95.7% (2024) | 73.6 years (2024) | |
| Turks and Caicos Islands | 119.7% (2024) | 78.2 years (2024) | |
| Uruguay | 98.9% (2024) | 119.1% (2023) | 78.3 years (2024) |
| Venezuela, RB | 97.8% (2024) | 72.7 years (2024) | |
| Virgin Islands (U.S.) | 80.8 years (2024) |
North America (3)
| Country | Adult literacy rate | Secondary school enrolment | Life expectancy at birth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bermuda | 74.4% (2023) | 82.5 years (2024) | |
| Canada | 104.3% (2023) | 82.1 years (2024) | |
| United States | 97.5% (2022) | 78.9 years (2024) |
South Asia (6)
| Country | Adult literacy rate | Secondary school enrolment | Life expectancy at birth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | 79.0% (2022) | 64.3% (2024) | 74.9 years (2024) |
| Bhutan | 64.9% (2022) | 86.2% (2024) | 73.3 years (2024) |
| India | 78.2% (2024) | 78.1% (2024) | 72.2 years (2024) |
| Maldives | 98.2% (2019) | 79.4% (2023) | 81.3 years (2024) |
| Nepal | 68.7% (2019) | 90.4% (2024) | 70.6 years (2024) |
| Sri Lanka | 92.7% (2024) | 88.0% (2023) | 77.7 years (2024) |
Sub-Saharan Africa (48)
| Country | Adult literacy rate | Secondary school enrolment | Life expectancy at birth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angola | 68.2% (2023) | 51.5% (2023) | 64.8 years (2024) |
| Benin | 51.4% (2022) | 43.6% (2022) | 61.0 years (2024) |
| Botswana | 70.6% (2021) | 69.3 years (2024) | |
| Burkina Faso | 41.6% (2023) | 30.0% (2024) | 61.3 years (2024) |
| Burundi | 71.3% (2020) | 44.9% (2020) | 63.8 years (2024) |
| Cabo Verde | 88.5% (2024) | 96.4% (2022) | 76.2 years (2024) |
| Cameroon | 72.5% (2018) | 44.8% (2023) | 64.0 years (2024) |
| Central African Republic | 42.4% (2019) | 57.7 years (2024) | |
| Chad | 30.6% (2019) | 23.5% (2024) | 55.2 years (2024) |
| Comoros | 75.6% (2021) | 54.8% (2022) | 67.0 years (2024) |
| Congo, Dem. Rep. | 68.5% (2023) | 55.5% (2023) | 62.1 years (2024) |
| Congo, Rep. | 66.0 years (2024) | ||
| Cote d'Ivoire | 50.0% (2021) | 65.3% (2024) | 62.1 years (2024) |
| Equatorial Guinea | 63.9 years (2024) | ||
| Eritrea | 44.0% (2022) | 68.9 years (2024) | |
| Eswatini | 90.8% (2022) | 64.3 years (2024) | |
| Ethiopia | 60.5% (2022) | 67.6 years (2024) | |
| Gabon | 88.9% (2021) | 70.3% (2019) | 68.5 years (2024) |
| Gambia, The | 51.6% (2021) | 107.0% (2021) | 66.1 years (2024) |
| Ghana | 76.5% (2021) | 75.7% (2024) | 65.7 years (2024) |
| Guinea | 39.6% (2018) | 60.9 years (2024) | |
| Guinea-Bissau | 63.9% (2022) | 64.3 years (2024) | |
| Kenya | 84.3% (2023) | 63.8 years (2024) | |
| Lesotho | 90.5% (2024) | 57.8 years (2024) | |
| Liberia | 37.7% (2020) | 62.3 years (2024) | |
| Madagascar | 74.7% (2021) | 34.1% (2021) | 63.8 years (2024) |
| Malawi | 70.2% (2020) | 36.6% (2023) | 67.6 years (2024) |
| Mali | 35.6% (2024) | 38.9% (2023) | 60.7 years (2024) |
| Mauritania | 59.5% (2020) | 36.0% (2020) | 68.7 years (2024) |
| Mauritius | 94.3% (2023) | 90.7% (2024) | 73.8 years (2024) |
| Mozambique | 61.7% (2022) | 63.8 years (2024) | |
| Namibia | 87.6% (2023) | 82.0% (2024) | 67.5 years (2024) |
| Niger | 35.6% (2022) | 19.9% (2024) | 61.4 years (2024) |
| Nigeria | 70.4% (2024) | 46.9% (2023) | 54.6 years (2024) |
| Rwanda | 78.8% (2022) | 48.8% (2024) | 68.0 years (2024) |
| Sao Tome and Principe | 87.4% (2019) | 69.9 years (2024) | |
| Senegal | 50.4% (2023) | 44.1% (2023) | 68.9 years (2024) |
| Seychelles | 70.8% (2024) | 76.3 years (2024) | |
| Sierra Leone | 43.6% (2019) | 86.9% (2023) | 62.0 years (2024) |
| Somalia, Fed. Rep. | 54.1% (2022) | 3.3% (2023) | 59.0 years (2024) |
| South Africa | 91.2% (2024) | 104.1% (2023) | 66.3 years (2024) |
| South Sudan | 122.1% (2024) | 57.7 years (2024) | |
| Sudan | 43.5% (2019) | 66.5 years (2024) | |
| Tanzania | 78.2% (2022) | 28.2% (2021) | 67.2 years (2024) |
| Togo | 72.6% (2022) | 63.4% (2023) | 62.9 years (2024) |
| Uganda | 77.0% (2024) | 68.5 years (2024) | |
| Zambia | 71.8% (2024) | 56.8% (2024) | 66.5 years (2024) |
| Zimbabwe | 93.2% (2019) | 63.1 years (2024) |
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (23)
| Country | Adult literacy rate | Secondary school enrolment | Life expectancy at birth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 37.3% (2021) | 59.6% (2023) | 66.3 years (2024) |
| Algeria | 105.2% (2024) | 76.5 years (2024) | |
| Bahrain | 97.8% (2024) | 98.8% (2024) | 81.4 years (2024) |
| Djibouti | 66.2 years (2024) | ||
| Egypt, Arab Rep. | 79.5% (2022) | 84.8% (2024) | 71.8 years (2024) |
| Iran, Islamic Rep. | 88.9% (2023) | 85.1% (2023) | 77.9 years (2024) |
| Iraq | 84.1% (2021) | 72.4 years (2024) | |
| Israel | 98.5% (2024) | 83.2 years (2024) | |
| Jordan | 94.4% (2024) | 91.8% (2024) | 78.0 years (2024) |
| Kuwait | 96.5% (2020) | 84.6 years (2024) | |
| Lebanon | 92.0% (2019) | 63.8% (2024) | 77.9 years (2024) |
| Libya | 71.1 years (2024) | ||
| Malta | 103.0% (2023) | 83.0 years (2024) | |
| Morocco | 90.0% (2024) | 75.5 years (2024) | |
| Oman | 97.3% (2022) | 95.1% (2024) | 80.2 years (2024) |
| Pakistan | 58.9% (2021) | 48.3% (2024) | 67.8 years (2024) |
| Qatar | 99.6% (2024) | 82.5 years (2024) | |
| Saudi Arabia | 97.9% (2024) | 110.7% (2024) | 79.0 years (2024) |
| Syrian Arab Republic | 94.4% (2021) | 38.7% (2024) | 72.6 years (2024) |
| Tunisia | 86.3% (2023) | 76.7 years (2024) | |
| United Arab Emirates | 98.8% (2024) | 102.1% (2024) | 83.1 years (2024) |
| West Bank and Gaza | 97.9% (2024) | 89.1% (2023) | 69.2 years (2024) |
| Yemen, Rep. | 69.4 years (2024) |
About these figures
Every number on this page comes from the World Bank Open Data, with the year it was observed attached. World Bank data is released under CC BY 4.0 Retrieved 2026-11-01.
This page describes the shape of the data. It does not rank countries against each other, and it says nothing about the people who live in them — a low figure is a fact about conditions and about what the source reports, not a verdict on a population. Our editorial standard.
See it as a life
These figures are what the simulation runs on. Start a life in any of the 217 countries and watch the years play out.