l
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.2%
male: 50%
female: 30.7% (2003 est.)

Serbia and Montenegro
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.4%
male: 98.9%
female: 94.1% (2002 est.)

Seychelles
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.9%
male: 91.4%
female: 92.3% (2003 est.)

Sierra Leone
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English,
Mende, Temne, or Arabic
total population: 29.6%
male: 39.8%
female: 20.5% (2000 est.)

Singapore
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.5%
male: 96.6%
female: 88.6% (2002)

Slovakia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.6% (2001 est.)

Slovenia
definition: NA
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.6% (2003 est.)

Solomon Islands
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Somalia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 37.8%
male: 49.7%
female: 25.8% (2001 est.)

South Africa
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.4%
male: 87%
female: 85.7% (2003 est.)

Spain
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.9%
male: 98.7%
female: 97.2% (2003 est.)

Sri Lanka
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.3%
male: 94.8%
female: 90% (2003 est.)

Sudan
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 61.1%
male: 71.8%
female: 50.5% (2003 est.)

Suriname
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88%
male: 92.3%
female: 84.1% (2000 est.)

Svalbard
NA

Swaziland
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 81.6%
male: 82.6%
female: 80.8% (2003 est.)

Sweden
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1979 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Switzerland
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1980 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Syria
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.9%
male: 89.7%
female: 64% (2003 est.)

Taiwan
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.1% (2003)

Tajikistan
definition: age 15 and over can read