The bar chart below shows estimated world illiteracy rates by region and by gender for the last year.(re)

The bar chart provides a comparison of estimated

illiteracy

rates

worldwide, categorized by region and

gender

, for the previous year.

Overall

, it is evident that developed countries have the lowest

illiteracy

rates

,

while

regions

such

as South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa report significantly higher figures. Notably, the chart highlights a stark

gender

disparity in

illiteracy

, with women consistently more affected than men across all

regions

. In developed countries, the

illiteracy

rate is minimal, with less than 2% of the population unable to read and write.

In contrast

,

regions

like Latin America and the Caribbean exhibit slightly higher

rates

, with

illiteracy

affecting around 10-20% of their populations. More alarmingly, in

regions

such

as Sub-Saharan Africa, Arab States, and South Asia,

illiteracy

rates

soar, ranging from 30% to nearly 60%. When considering

gender

, the data reveals a significant gap between male and female

illiteracy

rates

. In developed countries, the

gender

difference is minimal, with only a 1-2% difference.

However

, in

regions

like South Asia, the gap widens dramatically, with female

illiteracy

reaching 55%, far surpassing the male rate. Similar trends are observed in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Arab States, where women are disproportionately affected by

illiteracy

. In summary, the data underscores a global challenge, particularly in less developed

regions

, where

illiteracy

remains prevalent and women are disproportionately impacted. Addressing these disparities is crucial for improving literacy

rates

worldwide.