Literacy rate research summary. The literacy rate in the US is much higher today than it was 100 years ago, but there are still differences between the states. If you want to know which state has the highest literacy rate, and which has the lowest, we’ve gathered all of the latest insights. According to our research:
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The current US literacy rate is 79%.
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New Hampshire has the highest literacy rate of 94.2%.
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California has the lowest literacy rate of only 76.9%.
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68% of US 4th-graders are below the optimal reading level proficiency
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Adult illiteracy costs the US up to $2.2 trillion each year.
US literacy rate by state
The literacy rate in the US is different depending on the state you live in. The states at the top and bottom might not be what you’d expect. Here they are outlined:
Literacy rate by state
| State | Literacy rate |
|---|---|
| Alabama | 85.2% |
| Alaska | 90.8% |
| Arizona | 86.9% |
| Arkansas | 86.3% |
| California | 76.9% |
| Colorado | 90.1% |
| Connecticut | 91.4% |
| Delaware | 89.3% |
| Florida | 80.3% |
| Georgia | 83.3% |
| Hawaii | 84.1% |
| Idaho | 89.5% |
| Illinois | 87.1% |
| Indiana | 92.0% |
| Iowa | 92.5% |
| Kansas | 92.2% |
| Kentucky | 87.8% |
| Louisiana | 84.0% |
| Maine | 92.6% |
| Maryland | 88.8% |
| Massachusetts | 90.1% |
| Michigan | 91.7% |
| Minnesota | 94.0% |
| Mississippi | 49.8% |
| Missouri | 84.0% |
| Montana | 91.2% |
| Nebraska | 92.7% |
| Nevada | 83.9% |
| New Hampshire | 94.2% |
| New Jersey | 83.1% |
| New Mexico | 83.5% |
| New York | 77.9% |
| North Carolina | 86.4% |
| North Dakota | 93.7% |
| Ohio | 90.9% |
| Oklahoma | 87.7% |
| Oregon | 89.8% |
| Pennsylvania | 87.4% |
| Rhode Island | 91.5% |
| South Carolina | 85.3% |
| South Dakota | 93.0% |
| Tennessee | 86.8% |
| Texas | 81.0% |
| Utah | 90.6% |
| Vermont | 93.4% |
| Virginia | 88.0% |
| Washington | 90.2% |
| West Virginia | 86.6% |
| Wisconsin | 92.7% |
| Wyoming | 91.1% |
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New Hampshire has the highest literacy rate in the US, at 94.2%.
The top 5 states in the US by literacy rate include Minnesota (94.0%), North Dakota (93.7%), Vermont (93.4%), and South Dakota (93.0%).
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California has the lowest literacy rate in the US, at 76.9%.
The bottom 5 states in the US by literacy rate include New York (77.9%), Florida (80.3%), Texas (81.0%), and New Jersey (83.1%).
US literacy rate by race, ethnicity, and country of origin
Many things can impact the literacy rate. First and foremost, the US is a land of immigrants, and people from all over the world sometimes come to the country with low English literacy. However, many native-born Americans struggle with literacy as well. Consider these facts:
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35% of Americans with low literacy are White.
Hispanic Americans are also more likely to struggle with literacy, at 34%. On the other hand, Black Americans have a lower average literacy rate of 23%.
Literacy rate by race/ethnicity
Race/ethnicity Share of Americans with low literacy Share of non-native born White 35% 2% Hispanic 34% 24% Black 23% 3% Other 8% N/A -
24% of Hispanic Americans with low literacy rates are not native-born.
Learning a second or third language is hard. Many Hispanic Americans have Spanish as their native language, which means learning to read English can take time. Conversely, only 2% of the 35% of White Americans with low literacy are non-native.
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Immigrants constitute 34% of the total low-literacy population.
Despite only making up 15% of the total US population, immigrants are over-represented in the low literacy population. However, this still means that 66% of low-literacy Americans are native-born.
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Among unauthorized US immigrants, those from the northern triangle have the lowest average literacy rates of 22%.
The northern triangle is made up of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Mexico also has a low average English literacy rate of 25%. While, on the other hand, immigrants from Asian countries have an average literacy rate of 54%
Literacy rate by region of origin
Region of origin Average literacy rate Northern triangle 22% Mexico 25% Other Latin American countries 43% Asia 54% Other regions 69%
Literacy FAQ
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What does illiterate mean?
Illiterate means the inability to read and write. If someone is illiterate or has low literacy, they may struggle with reading and writing. However, literacy has no bearing on intelligence or the ability to speak a language. Many people who have low English literacy can speak the language well.
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What percentage of America is illiterate?
21% of Americans are illiterate. The US is behind many other countries when it comes to literacy. In fact, 54% of adults have literacy below a sixth-grade level.
By race and ethnicity, White Americans struggle the most with literacy, with 35% having low literacy. 34% of Hispanics have low literacy, and 23% of Black Americans do.
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What is functional illiteracy?
Functional literacy is when a person who can technically read and write lacks the literacy necessary for most jobs and other everyday situations. For example, if someone can read and write at a basic level, they may be able to answer texts or read simple literature, but may not be able to work a job that requires them to use spreadsheets or read more complicated text.
Even this level of illiteracy can harm the economy deeply, which is why low literacy rates cost the US up to $2.2 trillion per year.
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What state has the highest child literacy rate?
Massachusetts has the highest child literacy rate of 80%. Acquiring literacy has a child is much easier than as an adult, which is why high child literacy rates are so crucial. Massachusetts leads the pack, while the state with the lowest child literacy rate in the US is New Mexico, at only 30%.
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What city in the US has the highest illiteracy rate?
Washington, D.C. is the city with the highest literacy rate in the US. Others among the top three states with the highest literacy rates in the US are Seattle, WA, and Minneapolis, MN.
Conversely, the top three cities ranked with the lowest literacy rates are El Paso, TX, Bakersfield, CA, and Laredo, TX.
Conclusion
The literacy rate is a vital, but often overlooked aspect of the US economy. As of 2023, the nationwide literacy rate is around 79%, with the remaining lack of literacy costing the country an estimated $2.2 trillion per year.
However, not all states and demographics are equal in this regard. The state with the highest literacy rate in the US is New Hampshire, while the state with the lowest is California. Demographically, White Americans are most likely to be illiterate, at 35%, while Hispanic Americans are second most likely at 34%.
Interestingly though, only 2% of illiterate White Americans are non-native, while 24% of illiterate Hispanics are non-native.
Overall, this points to the trend that shows while immigrants are overrepresented for low literacy, the American education system may be far more to blame for low literacy rates.
References
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World Population Review – U.S. Literacy Rates by State [Updated May 2023]
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Annie E. Casie Foundation – Since Pandemic’s Start, 42 States See Rise in Fourth-Graders Below Reading Proficiency
Author
Jack Flynn is a writer for Zippia. In his professional career he’s written over 100 research papers, articles and blog posts. Some of his most popular published works include his writing about economic terms and research into job classifications. Jack received his BS from Hampshire College.
