Pakistan’s literacy rate stood at 63.0%, according to the Pakistan Economic Survey 2025-26 released on Thursday, 11 June 2026. Pakistan’s literacy rate in FY 2024-25 was reported at 60.6%.
The figure was recorded in the 2025 Population and Housing Census. It shows that Pakistan still faces major education challenges despite progress in some areas.
The survey came one day before the federal government presents the Budget 2026-27. Therefore, education indicators are likely to draw attention during budget discussions.
A 63% literacy rate means that a large share of the population still lacks basic reading and writing skills. This directly affects employment, income growth, social mobility, and digital inclusion.
Moreover, the survey showed wide gaps between urban and rural areas. Literacy in urban areas stood at 74.0%, while rural areas recorded only 55.0%. This gap shows that rural education access remains a serious issue.
The government also reported Rs. 962.0 billion in education expenditure during FY2025. This represented only 0.8% of GDP.
Pakistan will need better school access, stronger teacher quality, and higher education funding to improve the national literacy rate in the coming years.