The bar chart illustrates the estimated illiteracy rates by gender across various world regions for the previous year. Overall, women had higher illiteracy rates than men in every region, with the gender disparity being particularly pronounced in developing areas.
South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa exhibited the highest illiteracy rates, with over half of the female population unable to read or write, compared to approximately one-third of men. The Arab States followed closely, displaying a similar trend of gender disparity, though at slightly lower levels. In contrast, East Asia and Oceania had moderate illiteracy rates, with women’s rates just above 10%, while male illiteracy remained below this threshold.
Latin America and the Caribbean recorded relatively low illiteracy rates (approximately 10%), with a minor gender gap, making them comparable to East Asia. Developed countries had the lowest levels of illiteracy (around 2%), with near-universal literacy for both men and women. These figures highlight the stark contrast between highly developed nations and those with limited access to education.
In summary, while illiteracy rates were consistently higher among women worldwide, the extent of the gender gap varied significantly by region. The most severe disparities were found in developing nations, whereas more developed regions showed minimal differences.