jordan pulse -

Jordan has registered a notable decline in its national illiteracy rate over recent decades, dropping from 11.0 percent in 2000 down to 4.5 percent in 2025.

Marking International Literacy Day-observed annually on September 8-the Department of Statistics (DoS) highlighted findings from the 2025 Labour Force Survey, which reflect sustained downward trends in illiteracy across both genders. The government continues to step up targeted initiatives to bridge remaining educational gaps, focusing heavily on vulnerable demographics to promote equitable, lifelong learning.

Ministry of Education data for 2024 revealed that participation rates in formal and non-formal education and training among individuals aged 15 and above reached 40.5 percent (35.5 percent for males and 45.5 percent for females).

The Labour Force Survey demonstrated that illiteracy is lowest among young Jordanians aged 15 to 24, standing at just 0.7 percent. This reflects the high efficacy of national education policies and places the country on the brink of eradicating youth illiteracy. Conversely, the highest concentration of illiteracy remains among adults aged 65 and older, at 21.7 percent, underscoring ongoing structural challenges in reaching older demographics.

Illiteracy rates among the economically active population also remain exceptionally low, recorded at 0.4 percent for employed Jordanians aged 15 and above, 0.3 percent for the unemployed, and 6.7 percent for economically inactive individuals.

Eradicating illiteracy is a core Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). UNESCO actively assists Jordan in curbing adult illiteracy by 2030, supported by continuous collaboration between successive governments, international bodies, and local civil society organizations.

Observed worldwide since 1967, International Literacy Day serves as a vital reminder to policymakers, experts, and communities of the developmental barriers posed by illiteracy, renewing global commitments to educational equity and inclusion.

//Petra// AA