How Literacy Can End Poverty via Borgen Magazine

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How Literacy Can End Poverty

Borgen Magazine: 5.08.2018 by Richard Zarrilli

According to a report by the *World Literacy Foundation, almost 800 million people worldwide who cannot read or write are trapped in a cycle of poverty. This issue is a costly one for not only the illiterate but also for the literate. The World Literacy Foundation estimated that in 2015, illiteracy cost the global economy $1.2 trillion. These people are either completely illiterate, where they cannot read or write, or functionally illiterate, meaning they cannot perform simple tasks like reading medicine. In many ways, literacy can end poverty.

The World Literacy Foundation used a formula developed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to measure the economic impact of illiteracy. The formula estimates the cost of illiteracy to developing countries at 0.5 percent of their gross domestic product. In emerging economies, such as China and India, the cost stands at 1.2 percent of gross domestic product, while in developed countries the cost is estimated at about 2 percent of gross domestic product.

This report finds that countries with the largest gross domestic product suffer the greatest financial strain from illiteracy. Developed countries lose $898 billion every year due to workforce illiteracy, which can reduce business productivity, while emerging economies lose $294 billion. The report also states that illiterate people earn up to 42 percent less than those who can read.  READ MORE >>

Literacy Reports & Statistics

International

Ongoing

Progress in International Reading Literacy Study, PIRLS

Program for International Student Assessment,  PISA

Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies, PIAAC

2019: Economic & Social Cost of Illiteracy: A snapshot of illiteracy . . . World Literacy Foundation
2017: Literacy Rates Continue to Rise . . . , UNESCO Fact Sheet No. 45:

2016: Human Development Index, UNDP

2015: *Economic & Social Cost of Illiteracy: A snapshot of illiteracy . . . World Literacy Foundation

2012: Economic & Social Cost of Illiteracy: A snapshot of illiteracy . . . World Literacy Foundation
2006: Literacy for Life, Global Monitoring Report, UNESCO

2003-12: Literacy Initiative for Empowerment (LIFE), UNESCO