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%