عربي
Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS)
On the Eve of International Literacy Day, 8th of September
Illiteracy rates dropped in Palestine from 13.9% in 1997 to 4.1% in 2012
Illiteracy rates among individuals aged (15+ years) in Palestine fell in the period 1997-2012 from 13.9% to 4.1%. The illiteracy rate varies considerably between the sexes: 1.8% for males compared to 6.4% for females. For males, it decreased from 7.8% in 1997 to 1.8% in 2012, while for females it decreased from 20.3% to 6.4% over the same period.
In Palestine, there were 104,487 illiterate individuals aged (15 + years) in 2012: 71,126 of them in the West Bank and 33,361 in Gaza Strip, of which 23,393 males and 81,094 females, and were distributed as follows: 71,862 in urban localities, 22,041 in rural localities, and 10,584 in refugee camps. Also illiterate individuals aged (15+ years) distributed by age group: 61,058 among individuals aged (65+ years), 43,429 among individuals aged between 15-64 years.
Illiteracy rates vary according to locality type. Illiteracy rates in urban localities decreased from 12.4% in 1997 to 3.9% in 2012, from 16.9% to 4.9% in rural localities, and from 13.5% to 4.1% in refugee camps over the same period. In 2012, and the same illiteracy rate among males was in rural localities and in urban localities (1.8%), followed by males in refugee camps (2.2%). Female illiteracy rates were highest in rural localities (8.6%), followed by refugee camps (6.3%), and urban localities (6.1%).
The highest illiteracy rate of 48.7% was among individuals aged (65+ years) compared with other age groups, while it was 0.7% among individuals aged 15-24 years.
The highest illiteracy rate in 2012 among individuals aged (15 + years) was in Jerusalem governorate (6.1%), followed by Tubas governorate at (5.7%). The lowest rate was in Gaza governorate (3.1%). followed by Nablus governorate (3.3%).