Mexico achieves record low illiteracy rate
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UNESCO recently recognized Mexico for its progress in literacy, noting that 96% of Mexicans aged 15 and older can now read and write.
This represents the lowest illiteracy rate in the country’s history, with 3.8% of the population unable to read or write. Lidia Arthur Brito, UNESCO’s Deputy Director-General, praised the leadership of President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo during a ceremony in San Juan Chamula, Chiapas, a community in southern Mexico known for its indigenous population.
Brito connected Mexico’s advancements to a historical commitment to education, referencing figures like Benito Juárez and Jaime Torres Bodet, a former UNESCO Director-General. She emphasized that literacy extends beyond reading and writing, playing a vital role in preserving indigenous languages and cultures, and fostering development opportunities. Chiapas state was specifically highlighted as an example of Mexico’s cultural diversity and the preservation of valuable traditions.
UNESCO also awarded prizes to six innovative literacy projects from around the world, including Mexico’s “Chiapas Puede” program. Despite global improvements in youth literacy, rising from 75% in 1975 to 93% in 2024, UNESCO acknowledged the need to continually redefine literacy for the challenges of the 21st century.
