Women's Reading Literacy Is Higher Than Men's

Referring to data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a global trend shows that female literacy rates are higher than male literacy rates. Several countries even exhibit significant differences in literacy levels, such as Jordan, where the difference reaches 72 points. This figure is calculated by subtracting the average score of 15-year-old male students from that of 15-year-old female students, based on the PISA (Program for International Student Assessment) reading literacy scale.

Eight out of 71 (or 11.27%) of the countries considered showed a difference of more than 50 points (out of a total scale of 100). This group includes Albania, Georgia, and Qatar. Meanwhile, Indonesia's difference is 23 points, below the global average of 30.

It is crucial to note that higher female literacy rates should be accompanied by better job opportunities for women. This includes providing opportunities and encouragement for higher education, particularly in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), which have historically been dominated by men.

This article was produced in partnership with Investing in Women, an initiative of the Australian Government that promotes women’s economic empowerment in South East Asia.