Tranlated by Sabrin Qadah 

On the eve of the International Literacy Day, 8th September 2016, the President of Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics announced that there were about 94 thousands illiterate persons in Palestine aged 15 years and above in 2015. According to the United Nations for Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) – the illiterate person applies to persons unable to read and write with understanding a simple statement related to one’s daily life.

-The illiteracy rate among females is about three and a half times than of males

In 2015, the illiteracy rate among persons 15 years and above in Palestine was 3.3% (93,843 illiterate): 3.5% in the West Bank (63,105 illiterate) and 3.0% in Gaza Strip (30,738 illiterate). The illiteracy rate varies considerably between sexes: 1.5% for males (21,814 illiterate) compared to 5.1% for females (72,029 illiterate) in the same year.

In 2015, the illiteracy rate among older persons aged 65 years and above attained 38.6% (52,463 illiterate). The rate was 4.4% in the 45-64 year age group (22,881 illiterate), 1.1% in the 30-44 year age group (8,984 illiterate) and 0.7% among young people aged between 15-29 years (9,515 illiterate) in the same year.

-More than half of illiterates are elderly

Around 56% of illiterate persons are aged 65 years and over, while the lowest rate is among persons aged 30-44 years.

-The illiteracy rate is the highest in rural areas compared to other localities

In 2015, the illiteracy rate among rural localities reached 4.8% (25,086 illiterate), while scored 3.0% (60,600 illiterate) in urban areas and 3.0% (8,157 illiterate) in the refugee camps. In 2015, the male illiteracy rate was highest in rural localities, followed by urban areas and refugee camps respectively. Female illiteracy rate was highest in rural localities, followed by refugee camps and urban areas respectively.

Illiteracy rate for persons (15 years and above) in Palestine by locality type and sex, 2015

-The highest illiteracy rate was in Tubas and Salfit Governorates

In 2015, the highest illiteracy rate among persons aged 15 years and above was in Tubas and Salfit governorates, scoring 4.7% (1,991 illiterate) in Tubas governorate and (2,102 illiterate) in Salfit governorate. The lowest rate was in Gaza and North Gaza governorates with 2.7% (9,728 illiterate) in Gaza governorate and (5,579 illiterate) in North Gaza governorate.

- The illiteracy rates reduced in Palestine from 13.9% in 1997 to 3.3% in 2015 Illiteracy rates among persons aged 15 years and above in Palestine fell in the period 1997-2015 from 13.9% to 3.3%. For males, the rate fell from 7.8% in 1997 to 1.5% in 2015, while for females it fell from 20.3% to 5.1% over the same period.

Illiteracy rates for persons (15 years and above) in Palestine by sex for years 1997, 2000-2015

-The illiteracy rate in Palestine is one of the lowest in the world

According to UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the illiteracy rate among persons 15 years and above in Arab States was 21.5% (about 51.4 million illiterate) in 2014: for males, 14.2% (17.7 million illiterate) compared to 29.4% for females (33.7 million illiterate). For the same year, the rate was 14.7% (about 758.2 million illiterate) in the world among the same age group: for males. 10.8% (279.2 million illiterate) compared to 18.5% for females (479.0 million illiterate).