Literacy rates during the 18th century were quite good comparatively. Only about one-third of English men could read, compared with about half of the men in the colonies were able to. This does not include women or people of color, however. In the North, especially New England where public education became law early on in the colony's creation, education was much higher. This was partly due to the groups that moved to the area, such as the Puritans who generally wanted their congregations to be able to read The Bible, but also the diverse economy of the Northern colonies led to many to prosper in multiple professions. In the South, there was a small Planter (elite) class with the majority of the population being small farmers. Thus, in the South only the Planter class would often be literate. The Enlightenment occurred in America during this time, so people were looking to reason and science to find answers, versus looking towards religion. (However, the Great Awakening, occurring at roughly the same time was a revival of religious doctrine.) With these movements, many written documents were printed and spread throughout the colonies. The higher literacy rates helped spread many of these ideas throughout the colonies during the 1700s.
Danzer, Gerald A. "The Commercial North." The Americans. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell/Houghton Mifflin, 1998. Print.
In the United States, about 64% of state prisoners, 67% of federal prisoners, and 30% of jail inmates have not completed high school or its equivalent. This suggests lower literacy rates among incarcerated individuals compared to the general population. Efforts to improve education and literacy levels in prisons can help reduce recidivism rates.
More Europeans were literate because of several things:Improving economiesA growing interest in religious worksAn interest in record keeping
poverty is the main factor that affect literacy rates
Nations with the lowest GDP per capita have the lowest life expectancy and literacy rates.
The literacy rate in Djibouti is around 70%, with slightly higher rates among males compared to females. Efforts are being made to improve access to education and literacy levels in the country.
literacy rates increased
As of 2019, Zambia's literacy rate is estimated to be around 73.8%, with slightly higher literacy rates among males compared to females. The government is working towards improving access to education and literacy programs to increase this rate.
The literacy rate in Swat valley is around 62%, with slightly higher rates among males compared to females. Efforts are being made to improve access to education and promote literacy in the region.
scholars' efforts to standardize the English language
Not everyone can write. Different countries have different literacy rates. Most countries in the western world have literacy rates of around 99%, whereas developing countries have much lower literacy rates.
The literacy rate among Kurds varies by region and country, but overall it is estimated to be around 70-80%. Factors influencing literacy rates include access to education, economic conditions, and government policies towards minority groups.
The literacy rate in Ethiopia is estimated to be around 49.1% for the total population aged 15 and over. However, there are variations by region and gender, with higher rates in urban areas and among men compared to women. Efforts are being made to improve literacy rates through education initiatives and programs.