Rise in Literacy Rates in the Maldives: A Closer Look
The Maldives has seen a significant rise in its literacy rate, reaching 98.6% in 2022, according to the latest Census report by the Maldives Bureau of Statistics. This marks a substantial increase from the 82.3% recorded in 1977, highlighting decades of steady progress in education across the nation.
Historical Literacy Progress
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From 1977 to 1985, the literacy rate surged from 82.3% to 92.2%, reflecting a notable improvement. By 2006, the rate had climbed further to 97.4%. The most recent figure from 2022 shows a peak literacy rate of 98.6%, indicating a continued and substantial upward trend.
Literacy in Dhivehi Language
In 2014, the national literacy rate in Dhivehi was 97.7%. This figure rose to 98.6% by 2022, marking an increase of 0.9 percentage points. For males, the literacy rate improved from 97.4% in 2014 to 98.6% in 2022, showing a 1.2 percentage point increase. Females saw a more modest rise from 98.0% in 2014 to 98.7% in 2022, with a 0.7 percentage point increase.
Literacy by Locality
In 2022, the national average literacy rate in Dhivehi was 98.6%. In Malé, the literacy rate was notably higher at 99.2%. In contrast, the Atolls had a slightly lower rate at 98.2%, though still high. This demonstrates a variation between the urban and rural areas, with Malé having a higher literacy rate compared to the Atolls.
Literacy in English
In Malé, literacy rates in English are close to 100% for individuals aged 10 to 39. However, there is a marked decline starting from age 40, dropping to around 60% for those aged 50-54 and 20% for those aged 65 and above. In the Atolls, literacy in English begins at about 95% for the 10-14 age group and remains steady until around age 29. After this point, it declines sharply, falling to around 40% at ages 50-54 and about 10% for those aged 65 and above.
These statistics underscore the overall strong literacy rates in both English and Dhivehi languages across the Maldives, with noticeable differences between urban and rural areas and ongoing improvements over time.
