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
defi