The chart below shows estimated world literacy rates by region and by gender for the year 2000.

The bar chart compares the ratio of uneducated population, divided by sex, in six regions of the world in 2000. Overall, illiteracy rates were the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa, Arab countries and South Asia and close to zero in developed nations. However, there were more illiterate women than men in all regions. Men and women, unable to read or write, made up only 1% and 2% in developed countries. In comparison, the proportions of illiterate citizens in Latin America and the Caribbean were higher, 10% and 11%. In East Asia and Oceania, however, the gap was enormous; there were 20% illiterate females compared to 8% males. As regards the other regions, Sub-Saharan Africa had much greater proportions of the unschooled population, 48% women and 30% men. A similar proportion was seen in Arab states, where illiteracy rates were 53% and 28% respectively for females and males. It is noticeable that more than half of their females and one-quarter males never received any formal education. However, South Asia stood out as having the worst illiteracy figures for both sexes; 55% females versus 34% males.