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
t