The table illustrates the estimated literacy rates by region and gender for over the period of 2000-2004.
Overall, the proportion of male literacy rates across the world is usually slightly higher than females. In some regions of the world the overall literacy rates are seen to be accentuated due to the big gap in total proportions.
Africa has the lowest literacy rate among the regions, with only 62.5% of the population being able to read. While Europe on the other hand has the highest literacy rate compared to the other regions, with 98.8% of the population being able to read.
America and Ocenia almost have identical literacy rates, only differencing by 0.2%. Asia is considered to be one of the countries whose literacy rates are on the lower side given in the table.
Given the phenomenon that the world has 82.2% of total people who can read, and 87.2% being male emphasises the fact that the literacy field is male dominated field.
