The bar chart presents the estimated global literacy rates by region and gender in 2000.
Overall, females have higher literacy rates across all countries represented. There were low percentages in developed countries, as well as in Latin America and the Caribbean, while the Arab States and South Asia had significantly higher estimated rates.
Developed countries exhibit the lowest estimated literacy rates worldwide, with males at an estimated rate of 1% and females slightly higher at approximately 3%. In Latin America and the Caribbean, males have a low rate of 10%, while females have a slightly higher rate at around 12%. In East Asia, males have a literacy rate of 8%, whereas females have double that rate at 20%.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, males have a literacy rate of 30%, while females have a rate of almost 50%. In the Arab States, males have a rate of 29%, while females have a rate of 52%. Finally, in South Asia, males reached the highest rate among various regions at 34%, and females reached their peak at 57%.