Around 739 million young people and adults worldwide have not reached basic literacy levels. In connection with International Literacy Day on September 8, UNESCO highlighted the role of literacy in access to information, skills and fundamental rights.
Although the proportion of literate adults has risen from 65 percent in 1975 to 88 percent today, regional inequalities persist. Of the adults who cannot read or write, 225 million live in sub-Saharan Africa and 347 million live in South Asia. These two regions are home to more than 77 percent of the world's adults who lack literacy skills.
Women and children face disadvantages
Women make up 63 percent of the adult population that lacks literacy skills. In low- and middle-income countries, four out of every 10 children fail to reach the minimum level of reading proficiency.
Literacy supports people's ability to exercise other rights and freedoms while also expanding their knowledge, skills and values. UNESCO says this accumulation contributes to lasting peace, equality and the development of societies free from discrimination.
International Literacy Day to be held in Mexico
September 8 has been observed as International Literacy Day since a 1966 decision by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Various programs are organized on the occasion to explain the importance of literacy for individuals and societies and to raise awareness of related challenges.
The 60th International Literacy Day will be held in Mexico on September 8-9 this year under the theme "Literacy for People, Planet and Prosperity." As part of the program, UNESCO's draft "Global Alliance for Literacy Strategy" is expected to be prepared, and six International Literacy Prizes are expected to be awarded to their recipients.
Digital inequality creates new risks
Technologies accelerating digitalization, including artificial intelligence, are redefining the scope of literacy. This change is also transforming how literacy policies, systems and programs are designed and implemented.
According to UNESCO, artificial intelligence could help overcome existing challenges in education, improve teaching processes and accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 4. However, unequal access to technology, policy debates and the widening literacy gap pose significant risks.
UNESCO's 2025 report said that artificial intelligence is shaping numerous fields but that the transformation is not taking place fairly. The report said that one-third of the world's population lacks internet access, while the most advanced artificial intelligence models are accessible to people with the necessary infrastructure, language advantages and paid subscriptions.
UNESCO is calling for the changes artificial intelligence will create in education, both today and in the future, to be examined from different perspectives and for ethical, shared solutions to be developed.
