Adult literacy rate
Topic: Human Development: Concept, Approaches and Measurement · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 3 "Human Development"
Meaning
The adult literacy rate is the share of people aged 15 and above who can read and write. In NCERT's account of the HDI, it is one of two indicators of knowledge. The other is the gross enrolment ratio. This was the method used before 2010. Since 2010, the UNDP has instead measured education by mean years of schooling (for adults aged 25 and above) and expected years of schooling (for children starting school).
Example
Kerala has very high literacy, close to rich countries, even though its income per head is modest. This is a key reason it leads Indian states in human development.
Don't confuse with
- Mean years of schooling: literacy only asks whether an adult can read and write. Mean years of schooling counts how many years of education adults aged 25 and above have actually received. The current HDI uses mean years of schooling.
Related concepts
- Human Development Index
- Life expectancy at birth
- Gross enrolment ratio
- Purchasing power parity
- United Nations Development Programme
- Human Development Report