total population: 98.6%
male: 99.4%
female: 98% (2003 est.)

Aruba
definition:
total population: 97%
male: NA
female: NA

Australia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (1980 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: 97%
male: 99%
female: 96% (1989 est.)

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: 89.1%
male: 91.9%
female: 85% (2003 est.)

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: 97.4%
male: 98%
female: 96.8% (1995 est.)

Belarus
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.5% (2003 est.)

Belgium
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: NA
female: NA

Belize
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.1%
male: 94.1%
female: 94.1% (2003 est.)

Benin
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.9%
male: 56.2%
female: 26.5% (2000)

Bermuda
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 99% (1970 est.)

Bhutan
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42.2%
male: 56.2%
female: 28.1% (1995 est.)

Bolivia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87.2%
male: 93.1%
female: 81.6% (2003 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
definition: NA
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Botswana
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79.8%
male: 76.9%
female: 82.4% (2003 est.)

Brazil
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.4%
male: 86.1%
female: 86.6% (2003 est.)

British Virgin Islands
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.8% (1991 est.)
male: NA
female: NA

Brunei
definition: age 15 and over can read and writ