The given bar graph provides approximate global illiteracy proportions in 6 different areas among males and females in 2000.
Overall, it can be clearly seen that Sub-Saharan Africa, Arab States and South Asia had the highest percentages of illiteracy. On the other hand, developed countries, Latin America/Caribbean and East Asia/Oceania had the lowest rates.
South Asia had the largest proportion of illiteracy within women, which stood at around 55%. This figure decreased slightly in Arab States, where it accounted for just over 50%. Nearly 48% of females in Sub-Saharan Africa were illiterate. In terms of men, the percentages of illiteracy represented about 30% in all 3 regions mentioned above.
In developed countries, the rates of illiteracy among men and women were almost 1% and 2% respectively. There was a moderate increase in illiteracy proportions in Latin America/Caribbean within both genders, which occupied approximately 10%. In East Asia/Oceania, the percentage of illiterate women doubled to 20%, whereas for men, it dropped marginally to around 8%.
