The bar chart illustrates the estimated illiteracy rates among males and females across six regions of the world in the year 2000.
Overall, illiteracy was more prevalent among females than males in every region, with the widest disparities occurring in the Arab States, South Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa. By contrast, developed countries recorded the lowest levels of illiteracy for both genders.
In developed nations, illiteracy was almost negligible, affecting less than 2% of men and women. A similar trend of low figures, though slightly higher, was observed in Latin America and East Asia, where fewer than 10% of men and under 20% of women were illiterate. However, the situation was much more severe in developing regions. In Sub-Saharan Africa, approximately 30% of men and nearly half of women could not read or write. The Arab States and South Asia displayed the highest proportions, where over half of women and around one-third of men were illiterate.
Thus, the chart highlights stark regional differences, with underdeveloped areas facing the greatest gender gaps in literacy.