Literacy levels in Australia

An illustration of a book with a graph coming out of it.

About the study

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) published the results of the latest international study on literacy in the developed world. This study was called the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC). It measured the literacy, numeracy and computer skills of people in 24 different countries.

Traditionally literacy means the ability to read and write. These days, this meaning has been expanded to include using and understanding images, computers and technology to communicate and understand information. More specifically, literacy is the ability to understand, evaluate, use and engage with written texts to take part in society, reach goals, and develop knowledge and potential. It includes a range of skills from understanding written words and sentences to understanding and evaluating complex texts.

The study found that 14.1% of our population have very low levels of literacy, and over 40% have literacy levels below what is considered enough to get by in everyday life.

Results from the study

Results for each category are from the latest OECD literacy study that included Australia in 2011. Australia was not part of the 2023 Survey of Adults Skills by the OECD. The Australian Government is running its own national study on adult literacy, numeracy and digital skills. The key findings from this study are expected in mid-2026. Find out more in our 2023 Survey of Adult Skills results article.