Mexico’s Literacy Rate: Progress and Persistent Gaps

According to the 2020 census, 95.4 % of Mexicans aged 15 and older can read and write—a dramatic rise from 65.6 % in 1950. Gains stem from expanded schooling, mass‑media literacy campaigns, and programs like PRONALEES and INEA.

Disparities persist: women lag behind men, and rural areas trail urban centers. The government continues to invest in universal literacy through federal funding, adult education, and educational TV and radio broadcasts.