The table shows the estimated literacy rates by region and gender from 2000 to 2004.
Overall, Europe had the highest literacy rates, while Africa had the lowest. In all regions, males were more literate than females, although the difference was smaller in developed regions.
Globally, the total literacy rate was 82.2%. Male literacy reached 87.2%, compared to 77.3% for females. Europe recorded the highest overall rate at 98.8%, with very little difference between men (99.2%) and women (98.5%). The Americas and Oceania also had high literacy levels, with total rates of 93.6% and 93.4% respectively. In both regions, male literacy was only slightly higher than female literacy.
By contrast, Africa had the lowest literacy rate at 62.5%. The gender gap there was significant, as 71.6% of men were literate, compared to only 53.9% of women. Asia showed a similar pattern but with higher figures overall. Its total literacy rate was 79.3%, with 85.9% for males and 72.5% for females.
In conclusion, literacy rates were generally higher and more balanced between genders in developed regions, while developing regions showed lower rates and larger gender differences.