Chapter CIX: Part 109

Uganda
unicameral National Assembly (332 seats; 215 members elected
by popular vote, 104 nominated by legally established special
interest groups [women 79, army 10, disabled 5, youth 5, labor 5],
13 ex officio members; to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 23 February 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
NRM 191, FDC 37, UPC 9, DP 8, CP 1, JEEMA 1, independents 36, other
49

Ukraine
unicameral Supreme Council or Verkhovna Rada (450 seats;
members allocated on a proportional basis to those parties that gain
3% or more of the national electoral vote; to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 30 September 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party/bloc - Party of Regions
34.4%, Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc 30.7%, Our Ukraine-People's Self
Defense 14.2%, CPU 5.4%, Lytvyn bloc 4%, other parties 11.3%; seats
by party/bloc - Party of Regions 175, Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc 156,
Our Ukraine-People's Self Defense 72, CPU 27, Lytvyn bloc 20

United Arab Emirates
unicameral Federal National Council (FNC) or
Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani (40 seats; 20 members appointed by the
rulers of the constituent states, 20 members elected to serve
two-year terms)
elections: elections for one half of the FNC (the other half remains
appointed) held in the UAE on 18-20 December 2006; the new electoral
college - a body of 6,689 Emiratis (including 1,189 women) appointed
by the rulers of the seven emirates - were the only eligible voters
and candidates; 456 candidates including 65 women ran for 20
contested FNC seats; one female from the Emirate of Abu Dhabi won a
seat
note: reviews legislation but cannot change or veto

United Kingdom
bicameral Parliament consists of House of Lords (618
seats; consisting of approximately 500 life peers, 92 hereditary
peers, and 26 clergy) and House of Commons (646 seats since 2005
elections; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year
terms unless the House is dissolved earlier)
elections: House of Lords - no elections (note - in 1999, as
provided by the House of Lords Act, elections were held in the House
of Lords to determine the 92 hereditary peers who would remain
there; elections are held only as vacancies in the hereditary
peerage arise); House of Commons - last held 5 May 2005 (next to be
held by May 2010)
election results: House of Commons - percent of vote by party -
Labor 35.2%, Conservative 32.3%, Liberal Democrats 22%, other 10.5%;
seats by party - Labor 355, Conservative 198, Liberal Democrat 62,
other 31; seats by party in the House of Commons as of 4 June 2008 -
Labor 351, Conservative 192, Liberal Democrat 63, Scottish National
Party/Plaid Cymru 9, Democratic Unionist 9, Sinn Fein 5, other 17
note: in 1998 elections were held for a Northern Ireland Assembly
(because of unresolved disputes among existing parties, the transfer
of power from London to Northern Ireland came only at the end of
1999 and has been suspended four times, the latest occurring in
October 2002 and lasting until 8 May 2007); in 1999, the UK held the
first elections for a Scottish Parliament and a Welsh Assembly, the
most recent of which were held in May 2007

United States
bicameral Congress consists of the Senate (100 seats,
2 members are elected from each state by popular vote to serve
six-year terms; one-third are elected every two years) and the House
of Representatives (435 seats; members are directly elected by
popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held
November 2008); House of Representatives - last held 7 November 2006
(next to be held November 2008)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - Democratic Party 49, Republican Party 49, independent 2;
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - Democratic Party 233, Republican Party 202

Uruguay
bicameral General Assembly or Asamblea General consists of
Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (30 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; vice president has
one vote in the Senate) and Chamber of Representatives or Camara de
Representantes (99 seats; members are elected by popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Senators - last held 31 October 2004 (next to
be held October 2009); Chamber of Representatives - last held 31
October 2004 (next to be held October 2009)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - EP-FA 16, Blanco 11, Colorado Party 3; Chamber
of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
EP-FA 52, Blanco 36, Colorado Party 10, Independent Party 1

Uzbekistan
bicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis consists of an
upper house or Senate (100 seats; 84 members are elected by regional
governing councils and 16 appointed by the president; to serve
five-year terms) and a lower house or Legislative Chamber (120
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 26 December 2004 and 9 January 2005 (next to be
held December 2009)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - NA; Legislative Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - LDPU 41, NDP 32, Fidokorlar 17, MTP 11, Adolat 9,
unaffiliated 10
note: all parties in the Supreme Assembly support President KARIMOV

Vanuatu
unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 2 September 2008 (next to be held 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - VP
11, NUP 8, UMP 7, VRP 7, PPP 4, GC 2, MPP 1, NA 1, NAG 1, PAP 1,
Shepherds Alliance 1, VFFP 1, VLP 1, VNP 1, VPRFP 1, and independent
4; note - political party associations are fluid
note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of culture
and language

Venezuela
unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (167
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms;
three seats reserved for the indigenous peoples of Venezuela)
elections: last held 4 December 2005 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
pro-government 167 (MVR 114, PODEMOS 15, PPT 11, indigenous 2, other
25), opposition 0; total seats by party as of 1 January 2008 -
pro-government 152 (PSUV 114, PPT 11, indigenous 2, other 25),
PODEMOS 15

Vietnam
unicameral National Assembly or Quoc Hoi (500 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 20 May 2007 (next to be held in May 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
CPV 450, non-party CPV-approved 42, self-nominated 1; note - 493
candidates were elected; CPV and non-party CPV-approved delegates
were members of the Vietnamese Fatherland Front

Virgin Islands
unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
Democratic Party 8, ICM 4, independent 3
note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the
US House of Representatives; election last held 7 November 2006
(next to be held November 2008)

Wallis and Futuna
unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee
Territoriale (20 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 11 March 2002 (next to be held 22 April 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
RPR and affiliates 13, Socialists and affiliates 7
note: Wallis and Futuna elects one senator to the French Senate and
one deputy to the French National Assembly; French Senate -
elections last held 26 September 2004 (next to be held by September
2010); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - RPR (now
UMP) 1; French National Assembly - elections last held 17 June 2007
(next to be held by 2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats - PS 1

Yemen
a bicameral legislature consisting of a Shura Council (111
seats; members appointed by the president) and a House of
Representatives (301 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
six-year terms)
elections: last held on 27 April 2003 (next to be held in April 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
GPC 228, Islah 47, YSP 7, Nasserite Unionist Party 3, National Arab
Socialist Ba'th Party 2, independents 14

Zambia
unicameral National Assembly (158 seats; 150 members are
elected by popular vote, 8 members are appointed by the president,
to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 28 September 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
MMD 72, PF 44, UDA 27, ULP 2, NDF 1, independents 2; seats not
determined 2

Zimbabwe
bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate (93 seats - 60
elected by popular vote for a five-year term, 10 provincial
governors nominated by the president, 16 traditional chiefs elected
by the Council of Chiefs, 2 held by the president and deputy
president of the Council of Chiefs, and 5 appointed by the
president) and a House of Assembly (210 seats - all elected by
popular vote for five-year terms)
elections: last held 28 March 2008 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - MDC 51.6%,
ZANU-PF 45.8%, other 2.6%; seats by party - MDC 30, ZANU-PF 30;
House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - MDC 51.3%, ZANU-PF
45.8%, other 2.9%; seats by party - MDC 109, ZANU-PF 97, other 4

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2102 Life expectancy at birth (years)

Afghanistan
total population: 44.21 years
male: 44.04 years
female: 44.39 years (2008 est.)

Albania
total population: 77.78 years
male: 75.12 years
female: 80.71 years (2008 est.)

Algeria
total population: 73.77 years
male: 72.13 years
female: 75.49 years (2008 est.)

American Samoa
total population: 73.47 years
male: 70.55 years
female: 76.56 years (2008 est.)

Andorra
total population: 82.67 years
male: 80.35 years
female: 85.14 years (2008 est.)

Angola
total population: 37.92 years
male: 36.99 years
female: 38.9 years (2008 est.)

Anguilla
total population: 80.53 years
male: 78.01 years
female: 83.12 years (2008 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
total population: 74.25 years
male: 72.33 years
female: 76.26 years (2008 est.)

Argentina
total population: 76.36 years
male: 73.11 years
female: 79.77 years (2008 est.)

Armenia
total population: 72.4 years
male: 68.79 years
female: 76.55 years (2008 est.)

Aruba
total population: 75.06 years
male: 72.03 years
female: 78.14 years (2008 est.)

Australia
total population: 81.53 years
male: 79.16 years
female: 84.02 years (2008 est.)

Austria
total population: 79.36 years
male: 76.46 years
female: 82.41 years (2008 est.)

Azerbaijan
total population: 66.31 years
male: 62.2 years
female: 71 years (2008 est.)

Bahamas, The
total population: 65.72 years
male: 62.5 years
female: 69 years (2008 est.)

Bahrain
total population: 74.92 years
male: 72.41 years
female: 77.5 years (2008 est.)

Bangladesh
total population: 63.21 years
male: 63.14 years
female: 63.28 years (2008 est.)

Barbados
total population: 73.21 years
male: 71.2 years
female: 75.24 years (2008 est.)

Belarus
total population: 70.34 years
male: 64.63 years
female: 76.4 years (2008 est.)

Belgium
total population: 79.07 years
male: 75.9 years
female: 82.38 years (2008 est.)

Belize
total population: 68.19 years
male: 66.39 years
female: 70.08 years (2008 est.)

Benin
total population: 58.56 years
male: 57.42 years
female: 59.76 years (2008 est.)

Bermuda
total population: 78.3 years
male: 76.15 years
female: 80.48 years (2008 est.)

Bhutan
total population: 65.53 years
male: 64.75 years
female: 66.35 years (2008 est.)

Bolivia
total population: 66.53 years
male: 63.86 years
female: 69.33 years (2008 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
total population: 78.33 years
male: 74.74 years
female: 82.19 years (2008 est.)

Botswana
total population: 50.16 years
male: 51.28 years
female: 49.02 years (2008 est.)

Brazil
total population: 71.71 years
male: 68.15 years
female: 75.45 years (2008 est.)

British Virgin Islands
total population: 77.07 years
male: 75.88 years
female: 78.32 years (2008 est.)

Brunei
total population: 75.52 years
male: 73.32 years
female: 77.83 years (2008 est.)

Bulgaria
total population: 72.83 years
male: 69.22 years
female: 76.66 years (2008 est.)

Burkina Faso
total population: 52.55 years
male: 50.67 years
female: 54.49 years (2008 est.)

Burma
total population: 62.94 years
male: 60.73 years
female: 65.28 years (2008 est.)

Burundi
total population: 51.71 years
male: 50.86 years
female: 52.6 years (2008 est.)

Cambodia
total population: 61.69 years
male: 59.65 years
female: 63.83 years (2008 est.)

Cameroon
total population: 53.3 years
male: 52.54 years
female: 54.08 years (2008 est.)

Canada
total population: 81.16 years
male: 78.65 years
female: 83.81 years (2008 est.)

Cape Verde
total population: 71.33 years
male: 67.99 years
female: 74.76 years (2008 est.)

Cayman Islands
total population: 80.32 years
male: 77.68 years
female: 83 years (2008 est.)

Central African Republic
total population: 44.22 years
male: 44.14 years
female: 44.29 years (2008 est.)

Chad
total population: 47.43 years
male: 46.4 years
female: 48.5 years (2008 est.)

Chile
total population: 77.15 years
male: 73.88 years
female: 80.59 years (2008 est.)

China
total population: 73.18 years
male: 71.37 years
female: 75.18 years (2008 est.)

Christmas Island
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)

Colombia
total population: 72.54 years
male: 68.71 years
female: 76.5 years (2008 est.)

Comoros
total population: 63.1 years
male: 60.72 years
female: 65.55 years (2008 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
total population: 53.98 years
male: 52.22 years
female: 55.8 years (2008 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
total population: 53.74 years
male: 52.52 years
female: 55 years (2008 est.)

Cook Islands
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)

Costa Rica
total population: 77.4 years
male: 74.79 years
female: 80.14 years (2008 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
total population: 54.64 years
male: 53.95 years
female: 55.35 years (2008 est.)

Croatia
total population: 75.13 years
male: 71.49 years
female: 78.97 years (2008 est.)

Cuba
total population: 77.27 years
male: 75.02 years
female: 79.64 years (2008 est.)

Cyprus
total population: 78.15 years
male: 75.75 years
female: 80.67 years (2008 est.)

Czech Republic
total population: 76.62 years
male: 73.34 years
female: 80.08 years (2008 est.)

Denmark
total population: 78.13 years
male: 75.8 years
female: 80.59 years (2008 est.)

Djibouti
total population: 43.31 years
male: 41.89 years
female: 44.77 years (2008 est.)

Dominica
total population: 75.33 years
male: 72.39 years
female: 78.41 years (2008 est.)

Dominican Republic
total population: 73.39 years
male: 71.61 years
female: 75.24 years (2008 est.)

Ecuador
total population: 76.81 years
male: 73.94 years
female: 79.84 years (2008 est.)

Egypt
total population: 71.85 years
male: 69.3 years
female: 74.52 years (2008 est.)

El Salvador
total population: 72.06 years
male: 68.45 years
female: 75.84 years (2008 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
total population: 61.23 years
male: 60.36 years
female: 62.13 years (2008 est.)

Eritrea
total population: 61.38 years
male: 59.35 years
female: 63.46 years (2008 est.)

Estonia
total population: 72.56 years
male: 67.16 years
female: 78.3 years (2008 est.)

Ethiopia
total population: 54.99 years
male: 52.54 years
female: 57.51 years (2008 est.)

European Union
total population: 77.32 years
male: 74 years
female: 80.84 years (2008 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)

Faroe Islands
total population: 79.29 years
male: 76.86 years
female: 81.89 years (2008 est.)

Fiji
total population: 70.44 years
male: 67.9 years
female: 73.1 years (2008 est.)

Finland
total population: 78.82 years
male: 75.31 years
female: 82.46 years (2008 est.)

France
total population: 80.87 years
male: 77.68 years
female: 84.23 years (2008 est.)

French Polynesia
total population: 76.51 years
male: 74.07 years
female: 79.08 years (2008 est.)

Gabon
total population: 53.52 years
male: 52.5 years
female: 54.57 years (2008 est.)

Gambia, The
total population: 54.95 years
male: 53.06 years
female: 56.9 years (2008 est.)

Gaza Strip
total population: 73.16 years
male: 71.6 years
female: 74.83 years (2008 est.)

Georgia
total population: 76.51 years
male: 73.21 years
female: 80.26 years (2008 est.)

Germany
total population: 79.1 years
male: 76.11 years
female: 82.26 years (2008 est.)

Ghana
total population: 59.49 years
male: 58.65 years
female: 60.35 years (2008 est.)

Gibraltar
total population: 80.06 years
male: 77.17 years
female: 83.09 years (2008 est.)

Greece
total population: 79.52 years
male: 76.98 years
female: 82.21 years (2008 est.)

Greenland
total population: 69.46 years
male: 66.81 years
female: 72.25 years (2008 est.)

Grenada
total population: 65.6 years
male: 63.74 years
female: 67.47 years (2008 est.)

Guam
total population: 78.93 years
male: 75.86 years
female: 82.19 years (2008 est.)

Guatemala
total population: 69.99 years
male: 68.22 years
female: 71.86 years (2008 est.)

Guernsey
total population: 80.65 years
male: 77.64 years
female: 83.76 years (2008 est.)

Guinea
total population: 56.58 years
male: 55.12 years
female: 58.08 years (2008 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
total population: 47.52 years
male: 45.71 years
female: 49.39 years (2008 est.)

Guyana
total population: 66.43 years
male: 63.81 years
female: 69.18 years (2008 est.)

Haiti
total population: 57.56 years
male: 55.83 years
female: 59.35 years (2008 est.)

Honduras
total population: 69.37 years
male: 67.81 years
female: 71.01 years (2008 est.)

Hong Kong
total population: 81.77 years
male: 79.07 years
female: 84.69 years (2008 est.)

Hungary
total population: 73.18 years
male: 69 years
female: 77.62 years (2008 est.)

Iceland
total population: 80.55 years
male: 78.43 years
female: 82.76 years (2008 est.)

India
total population: 69.25 years
male: 66.87 years
female: 71.9 years (2008 est.)

Indonesia
total population: 70.46 years
male: 67.98 years
female: 73.07 years (2008 est.)

Iran
total population: 70.86 years
male: 69.39 years
female: 72.4 years (2008 est.)

Iraq
total population: 69.62 years
male: 68.32 years
female: 70.99 years (2008 est.)

Ireland
total population: 78.07 years
male: 75.44 years
female: 80.88 years (2008 est.)

Isle of Man
total population: 78.8 years
male: 75.46 years
female: 82.32 years (2008 est.)

Israel
total population: 80.61 years
male: 78.54 years
female: 82.79 years (2008 est.)

Italy
total population: 80.07 years
male: 77.13 years
female: 83.2 years (2008 est.)

Jamaica
total population: 73.59 years
male: 71.88 years
female: 75.38 years (2008 est.)

Japan
total population: 82.07 years
male: 78.73 years
female: 85.59 years (2008 est.)

Jersey
total population: 79.65 years
male: 77.15 years
female: 82.35 years (2008 est.)

Jordan
total population: 78.71 years
male: 76.19 years
female: 81.39 years (2008 est.)

Kazakhstan
total population: 67.55 years
male: 62.24 years
female: 73.16 years (2008 est.)

Kenya
total population: 56.64 years
male: 56.42 years
female: 56.87 years (2008 est.)

Kiribati
total population: 62.85 years
male: 59.79 years
female: 66.06 years (2008 est.)

Korea, North
total population: 72.2 years
male: 69.45 years
female: 75.08 years (2008 est.)

Korea, South
total population: 78.64 years
male: 75.34 years
female: 82.17 years (2008 est.)

Kuwait
total population: 77.53 years
male: 76.38 years
female: 78.73 years (2008 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
total population: 69.12 years
male: 65.12 years
female: 73.33 years (2008 est.)

Laos
total population: 56.29 years
male: 54.19 years
female: 58.47 years (2008 est.)

Latvia
total population: 71.88 years
male: 66.68 years
female: 77.35 years (2008 est.)

Lebanon
total population: 73.41 years
male: 70.91 years
female: 76.04 years (2008 est.)

Lesotho
total population: 40.17 years
male: 40.97 years
female: 39.34 years (2008 est.)

Liberia
total population: 41.13 years
male: 39.85 years
female: 42.46 years (2008 est.)

Libya
total population: 77.07 years
male: 74.81 years
female: 79.44 years (2008 est.)

Liechtenstein
total population: 79.95 years
male: 76.38 years
female: 83.52 years (2008 est.)

Lithuania
total population: 74.67 years
male: 69.72 years
female: 79.89 years (2008 est.)

Luxembourg
total population: 79.18 years
male: 75.91 years
female: 82.67 years (2008 est.)

Macau
total population: 84.33 years
male: 81.36 years
female: 87.45 years (2008 est.)

Macedonia
total population: 74.45 years
male: 71.95 years
female: 77.13 years (2008 est.)

Madagascar
total population: 62.52 years
male: 60.58 years
female: 64.51 years (2008 est.)

Malawi
total population: 43.45 years
male: 43.74 years
female: 43.15 years (2008 est.)

Malaysia
total population: 73.03 years
male: 70.32 years
female: 75.94 years (2008 est.)

Maldives
total population: 73.72 years
male: 71.55 years
female: 76.01 years (2008 est.)

Mali
total population: 49.94 years
male: 48 years
female: 51.94 years (2008 est.)

Malta
total population: 79.3 years
male: 77.08 years
female: 81.64 years (2008 est.)

Marshall Islands
total population: 70.9 years
male: 68.88 years
female: 73.03 years (2008 est.)

Mauritania
total population: 53.91 years
male: 51.61 years
female: 56.28 years (2008 est.)

Mauritius
total population: 73.75 years
male: 70.28 years
female: 77.4 years (2008 est.)

Mayotte
total population: 62.54 years
male: 60.3 years
female: 64.85 years (2008 est.)

Mexico
total population: 75.84 years
male: 73.05 years
female: 78.78 years (2008 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of
total population: 70.65 years
male: 68.79 years
female: 72.61 years (2008 est.)

Moldova
total population: 70.5 years
male: 66.81 years
female: 74.41 years (2008 est.)

Monaco
total population: 79.96 years
male: 76.14 years
female: 83.97 years (2008 est.)

Mongolia
total population: 67.32 years
male: 64.92 years
female: 69.84 years (2008 est.)

Montserrat
total population: 72.6 years
male: 74.66 years
female: 70.44 years (2008 est.)

Morocco
total population: 71.52 years
male: 69.16 years
female: 74 years (2008 est.)

Mozambique
total population: 41.04 years
male: 41.62 years
female: 40.44 years (2008 est.)

Namibia
total population: 49.89 years
male: 50.39 years
female: 49.38 years (2008 est.)

Nauru
total population: 63.81 years
male: 60.2 years
female: 67.6 years (2008 est.)

Nepal
total population: 60.94 years
male: 61.12 years
female: 60.75 years (2008 est.)

Netherlands
total population: 79.25 years
male: 76.66 years
female: 81.98 years (2008 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
total population: 76.45 years
male: 74.15 years
female: 78.87 years (2008 est.)

New Caledonia
total population: 74.75 years
male: 71.76 years
female: 77.88 years (2008 est.)

New Zealand
total population: 80.24 years
male: 78.33 years
female: 82.25 years (2008 est.)

Nicaragua
total population: 71.21 years
male: 69.08 years
female: 73.44 years (2008 est.)

Niger
total population: 44.28 years
male: 44.3 years
female: 44.26 years (2008 est.)

Nigeria
total population: 46.53 years
male: 45.78 years
female: 47.32 years (2008 est.)

Niue
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)

Norfolk Island
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)

Northern Mariana Islands
total population: 76.5 years
male: 73.89 years
female: 79.26 years (2008 est.)

Norway
total population: 79.81 years
male: 77.16 years
female: 82.6 years (2008 est.)

Oman
total population: 73.91 years
male: 71.64 years
female: 76.29 years (2008 est.)

Pakistan
total population: 64.13 years
male: 63.07 years
female: 65.25 years (2008 est.)

Palau
total population: 71 years
male: 67.82 years
female: 74.36 years (2008 est.)

Panama
total population: 76.88 years
male: 74.08 years
female: 79.81 years (2008 est.)

Papua New Guinea
total population: 66 years
male: 63.76 years
female: 68.35 years (2008 est.)

Paraguay
total population: 75.56 years
male: 72.99 years
female: 78.26 years (2008 est.)

Peru
total population: 70.44 years
male: 68.61 years
female: 72.37 years (2008 est.)

Philippines
total population: 70.8 years
male: 67.89 years
female: 73.85 years (2008 est.)

Pitcairn Islands
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)

Poland
total population: 75.41 years
male: 71.42 years
female: 79.65 years (2008 est.)

Portugal
total population: 78.04 years
male: 74.78 years
female: 81.53 years (2008 est.)

Puerto Rico
total population: 78.58 years
male: 74.64 years
female: 82.73 years (2008 est.)

Qatar
total population: 75.19 years
male: 73.5 years
female: 76.98 years (2008 est.)

Romania
total population: 72.18 years
male: 68.69 years
female: 75.89 years (2008 est.)

Russia
total population: 65.94 years
male: 59.19 years
female: 73.1 years (2008 est.)

Rwanda
total population: 49.76 years
male: 48.56 years
female: 51 years (2008 est.)

Saint Helena
total population: 78.27 years
male: 75.36 years
female: 81.33 years (2008 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
total population: 72.94 years
male: 70.08 years
female: 75.98 years (2008 est.)

Saint Lucia
total population: 76.25 years
male: 73.59 years
female: 79.05 years (2008 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
total population: 78.91 years
male: 76.55 years
female: 81.4 years (2008 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
total population: 74.34 years
male: 72.42 years
female: 76.31 years (2008 est.)

Samoa
total population: 71.58 years
male: 68.76 years
female: 74.55 years (2008 est.)

San Marino
total population: 81.88 years
male: 78.43 years
female: 85.64 years (2008 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe
total population: 68 years
male: 66.35 years
female: 69.69 years (2008 est.)

Saudi Arabia
total population: 76.09 years
male: 74.04 years
female: 78.25 years (2008 est.)

Senegal
total population: 57.08 years
male: 55.7 years
female: 58.5 years (2008 est.)

Serbia
total population: 75.29 years
male: 72.7 years
female: 78.09 years (2008 est.)

Seychelles
total population: 72.6 years
male: 67.27 years
female: 78.1 years (2008 est.)

Sierra Leone
total population: 40.93 years
male: 38.64 years
female: 43.28 years (2008 est.)

Singapore
total population: 81.89 years
male: 79.29 years
female: 84.68 years (2008 est.)

Slovakia
total population: 75.17 years
male: 71.23 years
female: 79.32 years (2008 est.)

Slovenia
total population: 76.73 years
male: 73.04 years
female: 80.66 years (2008 est.)

Solomon Islands
total population: 73.44 years
male: 70.9 years
female: 76.1 years (2008 est.)

Somalia
total population: 49.25 years
male: 47.43 years
female: 51.12 years (2008 est.)

South Africa
total population: 48.89 years
male: 49.63 years
female: 48.15 years (2008 est.)

Spain
total population: 79.92 years
male: 76.6 years
female: 83.45 years (2008 est.)

Sri Lanka
total population: 74.97 years
male: 72.95 years
female: 77.08 years (2008 est.)

Sudan
total population: 50.28 years
male: 49.38 years
female: 51.23 years (2008 est.)

Suriname
total population: 73.48 years
male: 70.76 years
female: 76.39 years (2008 est.)

Svalbard
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)

Swaziland
total population: 31.99 years
male: 31.69 years
female: 32.3 years (2008 est.)

Sweden
total population: 80.74 years
male: 78.49 years
female: 83.13 years (2008 est.)

Switzerland
total population: 80.74 years
male: 77.91 years
female: 83.71 years (2008 est.)

Syria
total population: 70.9 years
male: 69.53 years
female: 72.35 years (2008 est.)

Taiwan
total population: 77.76 years
male: 74.89 years
female: 80.89 years (2008 est.)

Tajikistan
total population: 64.97 years
male: 61.95 years
female: 68.15 years (2008 est.)

Tanzania
total population: 51.45 years
male: 50.06 years
female: 52.88 years (2008 est.)

Thailand
total population: 72.83 years
male: 70.51 years
female: 75.27 years (2008 est.)

Timor-Leste
total population: 66.94 years
male: 64.6 years
female: 69.39 years (2008 est.)

Togo
total population: 58.28 years
male: 56.2 years
female: 60.43 years (2008 est.)

Tokelau
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)

Tonga
total population: 70.44 years
male: 67.9 years
female: 73.1 years (2008 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
total population: 67 years
male: 66.07 years
female: 67.98 years (2008 est.)

Tunisia
total population: 75.56 years
male: 73.79 years
female: 77.46 years (2008 est.)

Turkey
total population: 73.14 years
male: 70.67 years
female: 75.73 years (2008 est.)

Turkmenistan
total population: 68.6 years
male: 65.53 years
female: 71.82 years (2008 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
total population: 75.19 years
male: 72.91 years
female: 77.59 years (2008 est.)

Tuvalu
total population: 68.97 years
male: 66.7 years
female: 71.36 years (2008 est.)

Uganda
total population: 52.34 years
male: 51.31 years
female: 53.4 years (2008 est.)

Ukraine
total population: 68.06 years
male: 62.24 years
female: 74.24 years (2008 est.)

United Arab Emirates
total population: 75.89 years
male: 73.35 years
female: 78.56 years (2008 est.)

United Kingdom
total population: 78.85 years
male: 76.37 years
female: 81.46 years (2008 est.)

United States
total population: 78.14 years
male: 75.29 years
female: 81.13 years (2008 est.)

Uruguay
total population: 76.14 years
male: 72.89 years
female: 79.51 years (2008 est.)

Uzbekistan
total population: 71.69 years
male: 68.69 years
female: 74.87 years (2008 est.)

Vanuatu
total population: 63.61 years
male: 62.04 years
female: 65.27 years (2008 est.)

Venezuela
total population: 73.45 years
male: 70.4 years
female: 76.65 years (2008 est.)

Vietnam
total population: 71.33 years
male: 68.52 years
female: 74.33 years (2008 est.)

Virgin Islands
total population: 78.92 years
male: 75.9 years
female: 82.11 years (2008 est.)

Wallis and Futuna
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)

West Bank
total population: 74.29 years
male: 72.32 years
female: 76.38 years (2008 est.)

Western Sahara
total population: 53.92 years NA
male: 51.64 years NA
female: 56.31 years NA (2008 est.)

World
total population: 66.26 years
male: 64.3 years
female: 68.35 years (2008 est.)

Yemen
total population: 62.9 years
male: 60.96 years
female: 64.94 years (2008 est.)

Zambia
total population: 38.59 years
male: 38.49 years
female: 38.7 years (2008 est.)

Zimbabwe
total population: 44.28 years
male: 45.08 years
female: 43.46 years (2008 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2103 Literacy (%)

Afghanistan
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 28.1%
male: 43.1%
female: 12.6% (2000 est.)

Albania
definition: age 9 and over can read and write
total population: 98.7%
male: 99.2%
female: 98.3% (2001 census)

Algeria
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 69.9%
male: 79.6%
female: 60.1% (2002 est.)

American Samoa
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 98%
female: 97% (1980 est.)

Andorra
definition: NA
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%

Angola
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 67.4%
male: 82.9%
female: 54.2% (2001 est.)

Anguilla
definition: age 12 and over can read and write
total population: 95%
male: 95%
female: 95% (1984 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
definition: age 15 and over has completed five
or more years of schooling
total population: 85.8%
male: NA%
female: NA% (2003 est.)

Argentina
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.2%
male: 97.2%
female: 97.2% (2001 census)

Armenia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.2% (2001 census)

Aruba
definition: NA
total population: 97.3%
male: 97.5%
female: 97.1% (2000 census)

Australia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Austria
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: NA
female: NA

Azerbaijan
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.8%
male: 99.5%
female: 98.2% (1999 census)

Bahamas, The
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.6%
male: 94.7%
female: 96.5% (2003 est.)

Bahrain
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.5%
male: 88.6%
female: 83.6% (2001 census)

Bangladesh
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 43.1%
male: 53.9%
female: 31.8% (2003 est.)

Barbados
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.7% (2002 est.)

Belarus
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.4% (1999 census)

Belgium
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Belize
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.9%
male: 76.7%
female: 77.1% (2000 census)

Benin
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 34.7%
male: 47.9%
female: 23.3% (2002 census)

Bermuda
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 99% (2005 est.)

Bhutan
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 47%
male: 60%
female: 34% (2003 est.)

Bolivia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.7%
male: 93.1%
female: 80.7% (2001 census)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.7%
male: 99%
female: 94.4% (2000 est.)

Botswana
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 81.2%
male: 80.4%
female: 81.8% (2003 est.)

Brazil
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.6%
male: 88.4%
female: 88.8% (2004 est.)

British Virgin Islands
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.8% (1991 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Brunei
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.7%
male: 95.2%
female: 90.2% (2001 census)

Bulgaria
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.2%
male: 98.7%
female: 97.7% (2001 census)

Burkina Faso
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 21.8%
male: 29.4%
female: 15.2% (2003 est.)

Burma
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89.9%
male: 93.9%
female: 86.4% (2006 est.)

Burundi
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 59.3%
male: 67.3%
female: 52.2% (2000 est.)

Cambodia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 73.6%
male: 84.7%
female: 64.1% (2004 est.)

Cameroon
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 67.9%
male: 77%
female: 59.8% (2001 est.)

Canada
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Cape Verde
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.6%
male: 85.8%
female: 69.2% (2003 est.)

Cayman Islands
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1970 est.)

Central African Republic
definition: age 15 and over can read and
write
total population: 48.6%
male: 64.8%
female: 33.5% (2000 est.)

Chad
definition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic
total population: 25.7%
male: 40.8%
female: 12.8% (2000 est.)

Chile
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.7%
male: 95.8%
female: 95.6% (2002 census)

China
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.9%
male: 95.1%
female: 86.5% (2000 census)

Christmas Island
NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
NA

Colombia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.8%
male: 92.9%
female: 92.7% (2004 est.)

Comoros
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 56.5%
male: 63.6%
female: 49.3% (2003 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
definition: age 15 and over can
read and write French, Lingala, Kingwana, or Tshiluba
total population: 67.2%
male: 80.9%
female: 54.1% (2001 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.8%
male: 89.6%
female: 78.4% (2003 est.)

Cook Islands
definition: NA
total population: 95%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Costa Rica
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.9%
male: 94.7%
female: 95.1% (2000 census)

Cote d'Ivoire
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 48.7%
male: 60.8%
female: 38.6% (2000 est.)

Croatia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.1%
male: 99.3%
female: 97.1% (2001 census)

Cuba
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.8% (2002 census)

Cyprus
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.6%
male: 98.9%
female: 96.3% (2001 census)

Czech Republic
definition: NA
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Denmark
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Djibouti
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 67.9%
male: 78%
female: 58.4% (2003 est.)

Dominica
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 94%
male: 94%
female: 94% (2003 est.)

Dominican Republic
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87%
male: 86.8%
female: 87.2% (2002 census)

Ecuador
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91%
male: 92.3%
female: 89.7% (2001 census)

Egypt
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 71.4%
male: 83%
female: 59.4% (2005 est.)

El Salvador
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 80.2%
male: 82.8%
female: 77.7% (2003 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87%
male: 93.4%
female: 80.5% (2000 est.)

Eritrea
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58.6%
male: 69.9%
female: 47.6% (2003 est.)

Estonia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.8% (2000 census)

Ethiopia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42.7%
male: 50.3%
female: 35.1% (2003 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
NA

Faroe Islands
NA; note - probably 99%, the same as Denmark proper

Fiji
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.7%
male: 95.5%
female: 91.9% (2003 est.)

Finland
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2000 est.)

France
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

French Polynesia
definition: age 14 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1977 est.)

Gabon
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 63.2%
male: 73.7%
female: 53.3% (1995 est.)

Gambia, The
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.1%
male: 47.8%
female: 32.8% (2003 est.)

Gaza Strip
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.4%
male: 96.7%
female: 88% (2004 est.)

Georgia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2004 est.)

Germany
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Ghana
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.9%
male: 66.4%
female: 49.8% (2000 census)

Gibraltar
definition: NA
total population: above 80%
male: NA
female: NA

Greece
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 97.8%
female: 94.2% (2001 census)

Greenland
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2001 est.)

Grenada
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: NA
female: NA (2003 est.)

Guam
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1990 est.)

Guatemala
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 69.1%
male: 75.4%
female: 63.3% (2002 census)

Guernsey
NA

Guinea
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 29.5%
male: 42.6%
female: 18.1% (2003 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42.4%
male: 58.1%
female: 27.4% (2003 est.)

Guyana
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98.8%
male: 99.1%
female: 98.5% (2003 est.)

Haiti
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 52.9%
male: 54.8%
female: 51.2% (2003 est.)

Holy See (Vatican City)
definition: NA
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%

Honduras
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 80%
male: 79.8%
female: 80.2% (2001 census)

Hong Kong
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 93.5%
male: 96.9%
female: 89.6% (2002)

Hungary
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.5%
female: 99.3% (2003 est.)

Iceland
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

India
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 61%
male: 73.4%
female: 47.8% (2001 census)

Indonesia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.4%
male: 94%
female: 86.8% (2004 est.)

Iran
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 77%
male: 83.5%
female: 70.4% (2002 est.)

Iraq
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74.1%
male: 84.1%
female: 64.2% (2000 est.)

Ireland
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Isle of Man
NA

Israel
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.1%
male: 98.5%
female: 95.9% (2004 est.)

Italy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.4%
male: 98.8%
female: 98% (2001 census)

Jamaica
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 87.9%
male: 84.1%
female: 91.6% (2003 est.)

Japan
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2002)

Jersey
NA

Jordan
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89.9%
male: 95.1%
female: 84.7% (2003 est.)

Kazakhstan
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.5%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.3% (1999 est.)

Kenya
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85.1%
male: 90.6%
female: 79.7% (2003 est.)

Kiribati
NA

Korea, North
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99%

Korea, South
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.9%
male: 99.2%
female: 96.6% (2002)

Kuwait
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.3%
male: 94.4%
female: 91% (2005 census)

Kyrgyzstan
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.7%
male: 99.3%
female: 98.1% (1999 census)

Laos
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 68.7%
male: 77%
female: 60.9% (2001 est.)

Latvia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.7% (2000 census)

Lebanon
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87.4%
male: 93.1%
female: 82.2% (2003 est.)

Lesotho
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.8%
male: 74.5%
female: 94.5% (2003 est.)

Liberia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.5%
male: 73.3%
female: 41.6% (2003 est.)

Libya
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82.6%
male: 92.4%
female: 72% (2003 est.)

Liechtenstein
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%

Lithuania
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.6%
female: 99.6% (2001 census)

Luxembourg
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2000 est.)

Macau
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.3%
male: 95.3%
female: 87.8% (2001 census)

Macedonia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.1%
male: 98.2%
female: 94.1% (2002 census)

Madagascar
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 68.9%
male: 75.5%
female: 62.5% (2003 est.)

Malawi
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 62.7%
male: 76.1%
female: 49.8% (2003 est.)

Malaysia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.7%
male: 92%
female: 85.4% (2000 census)

Maldives
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.3%
male: 96.2%
female: 96.4% (2000 census)

Mali
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 46.4%
male: 53.5%
female: 39.6% (2003 est.)

Malta
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 92.8%
male: 92%
female: 93.6% (2003 est.)

Marshall Islands
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.7%
male: 93.6%
female: 93.7% (1999)

Mauritania
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 51.2%
male: 59.5%
female: 43.4% (2000 census)

Mauritius
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.4%
male: 88.4%
female: 80.5% (2000 census)

Mayotte
NA

Mexico
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91%
male: 92.4%
female: 89.6% (2004 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of
definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 89%
male: 91%
female: 88% (1980 est.)

Moldova
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.1%
male: 99.7%
female: 98.6% (2005 est.)

Monaco
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Mongolia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.8%
male: 98%
female: 97.5% (2000 census)

Montserrat
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 97% (1970 est.)

Morocco
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 52.3%
male: 65.7%
female: 39.6% (2004 census)

Mozambique
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 47.8%
male: 63.5%
female: 32.7% (2003 est.)

Namibia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85%
male: 86.8%
female: 83.5% (2001 census)

Nauru
NA

Nepal
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 48.6%
male: 62.7%
female: 34.9% (2001 census)

Netherlands
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.7%
male: 96.7%
female: 96.8% (2003 est.)

New Caledonia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.2%
male: 96.8%
female: 95.5% (1996 census)

New Zealand
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Nicaragua
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 67.5%
male: 67.2%
female: 67.8% (2003 est.)

Niger
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 28.7%
male: 42.9%
female: 15.1% (2005 est.)

Nigeria
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 68%
male: 75.7%
female: 60.6% (2003 est.)

Niue
definition: NA
total population: 95%
male: NA
female: NA

Norfolk Island
NA

Northern Mariana Islands
definition: age 15 and over can read and
write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 96% (1980 est.)

Norway
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%

Oman
definition: NA
total population: 81.4%
male: 86.8%
female: 73.5% (2003 census)

Pakistan
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 49.9%
male: 63%
female: 36% (2005 est.)

Palau
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92%
male: 93%
female: 90% (1980 est.)

Panama
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.9%
male: 92.5%
female: 91.2% (2000 census)

Papua New Guinea
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.3%
male: 63.4%
female: 50.9% (2000 census)

Paraguay
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94%
male: 94.9%
female: 93% (2003 est.)

Peru
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87.7%
male: 93.5%
female: 82.1% (2004 est.)

Philippines
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.6%
male: 92.5%
female: 92.7% (2000 census)

Pitcairn Islands
NA

Poland
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.7% (2003 est.)

Portugal
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.3%
male: 95.5%
female: 91.3% (2003 est.)

Puerto Rico
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.1%
male: 93.9%
female: 94.4% (2002 est.)

Qatar
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89%
male: 89.1%
female: 88.6% (2004 census)

Romania
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.3%
male: 98.4%
female: 96.3% (2002 census)

Russia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.2% (2002 census)

Rwanda
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 70.4%
male: 76.3%
female: 64.7% (2003 est.)

Saint Helena
definition: age 20 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 98% (1987 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended
school
total population: 97.8%
male: NA%
female: NA% (2003 est.)

Saint Lucia
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 90.1%
male: 89.5%
female: 90.6% (2001 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
definition: age 15 and over can read and
write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1982 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
definition: age 15 and over has
ever attended school
total population: 96%
male: 96%
female: 96% (1970 est.)

Samoa
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.6%
female: 99.7% (2003 est.)

San Marino
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 97%
female: 95%

Sao Tome and Principe
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.9%
male: 92.2%
female: 77.9% (2001 census)

Saudi Arabia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 78.8%
male: 84.7%
female: 70.8% (2003 est.)

Senegal
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 39.3%
male: 51.1%
female: 29.2% (2002 est.)

Serbia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.4%
male: 98.9%
female: 94.1% (2003 census)
note: includes Montenegro

Seychelles
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.8%
male: 91.4%
female: 92.3% (2002 census)

Sierra Leone
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English,
Mende, Temne, or Arabic
total population: 35.1%
male: 46.9%
female: 24.4% (2004 est.)

Singapore
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.5%
male: 96.6%
female: 88.6% (2000 census)

Slovakia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.6% (2001 est.)

Slovenia
definition: NA
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.6%

Solomon Islands
NA

Somalia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 37.8%
male: 49.7%
female: 25.8% (2001 est.)

South Africa
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.4%
male: 87%
female: 85.7% (2003 est.)

Spain
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.9%
male: 98.7%
female: 97.2% (2003 est.)

Sri Lanka
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.7%
male: 92.3%
female: 89.1% (2001 census)

Sudan
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 61.1%
male: 71.8%
female: 50.5% (2003 est.)

Suriname
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89.6%
male: 92%
female: 87.2% (2004 census)

Svalbard
NA

Swaziland
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 81.6%
male: 82.6%
female: 80.8% (2003 est.)

Sweden
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Switzerland
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Syria
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79.6%
male: 86%
female: 73.6% (2004 census)

Taiwan
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.1%
male: NA
female: NA (2003)

Tajikistan
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.5%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.2% (2000 census)

Tanzania
definition: age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili
(Swahili), English, or Arabic
total population: 69.4%
male: 77.5%
female: 62.2% (2002 census)

Thailand
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.6%
male: 94.9%
female: 90.5% (2000 census)

Timor-Leste
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58.6%
male: NA
female: NA (2002)

Togo
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 60.9%
male: 75.4%
female: 46.9% (2003 est.)

Tokelau
NA

Tonga
definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English
total population: 98.9%
male: 98.8%
female: 99% (1999 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.6%
male: 99.1%
female: 98% (2003 est.)

Tunisia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74.3%
male: 83.4%
female: 65.3% (2004 census)

Turkey
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87.4%
male: 95.3%
female: 79.6% (2004 est.)

Turkmenistan
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.8%
male: 99.3%
female: 98.3% (1999 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
definition: age 15 and over has ever
attended school
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1970 est.)

Tuvalu
NA

Uganda
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 66.8%
male: 76.8%
female: 57.7% (2002 census)

Ukraine
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.2% (2001 census)

United Arab Emirates
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 77.9%
male: 76.1%
female: 81.7% (2003 est.)

United Kingdom
definition: age 15 and over has completed five or
more years of schooling
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

United States
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Uruguay
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 97.6%
female: 98.4% (2003 est.)

Uzbekistan
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.3%
male: 99.6%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Vanuatu
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74%
male: NA
female: NA (1999 census)

Venezuela
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93%
male: 93.3%
female: 92.7% (2001 census)

Vietnam
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.3%
male: 93.9%
female: 86.9% (2002 est.)

Virgin Islands
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90-95% est.
male: NA%
female: NA% (2005 est.)

Wallis and Futuna
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 50%
male: 50%
female: 50% (1969 est.)

West Bank
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.4%
male: 96.7%
female: 88% (2004 est.)

Western Sahara
NA

World
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82%
male: 87%
female: 77%
note: over two-thirds of the world's 785 million illiterate adults
are found in only eight countries (India, China, Bangladesh,
Pakistan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Egypt); of all the
illiterate adults in the world, two-thirds are women; extremely low
literacy rates are concentrated in three regions, South and West
Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Arab states, where around
one-third of the men and half of all women are illiterate (2005 est.)

Yemen
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 50.2%
male: 70.5%
female: 30% (2003 est.)