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Literacy in the United States

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Literacy in the United States

Adult literacy in the United States is assessed through national and international studies conducted by various government agencies and private research organizations. The most recent comprehensive data comes from a 2023 study conducted by the Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) as part of the OECD's Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies. In 2023, 28% of adults scored at or below Level 1, 29% at Level 2, and 44% at Level 3 or above. Adults scoring in the lowest levels of literacy increased 9 percentage points between 2017 and 2023. In 2017, 19% of U.S. adults achieved a Level 1 or below in literacy, while 48% achieved the highest levels. Anything below Level 3 is considered "partially illiterate" (see also § Definitions below). Adults scoring below Level 1 can comprehend simple sentences and short paragraphs with minimal structure but will struggle with multi-step instructions or complex sentences, while those at Level 1 can locate explicitly cued information in short texts, lists, or simple digital pages with minimal distractions but will struggle with multi-page texts and complex prose. In general, both groups struggle reading complex sentences, texts requiring multiple-step processing, and texts with distractions. A 2020 analysis by Gallup in conjunction with the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy estimated that the U.S. economic output could increase by $2.2 trillion annually—approximately 10% of the national GDP—if all adults were at Level 3.

Tables

· Literacy rates › National Assessment of Educational Progress
Asian
Asian
Race/Ethnicity
Asian
Proficient level
57%
Basic level
82%
White
White
Race/Ethnicity
White
Proficient level
44%
Basic level
76%
Two or more races
Two or more races
Race/Ethnicity
Two or more races
Proficient level
40%
Basic level
72%
National average
National average
Race/Ethnicity
National average
Proficient level
34%
Basic level
65%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
Race/Ethnicity
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
Proficient level
24%
Basic level
55%
Hispanic
Hispanic
Race/Ethnicity
Hispanic
Proficient level
23%
Basic level
54%
American Indian/Alaska Native
American Indian/Alaska Native
Race/Ethnicity
American Indian/Alaska Native
Proficient level
20%
Basic level
50%
Black
Black
Race/Ethnicity
Black
Proficient level
18%
Basic level
47%
Race/Ethnicity
Proficient level
Basic level
Asian
57%
82%
White
44%
76%
Two or more races
40%
72%
National average
34%
65%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
24%
55%
Hispanic
23%
54%
American Indian/Alaska Native
20%
50%
Black
18%
47%
· Literacy rates › Other domestic studies › Central Connecticut State University study
2008
2008
City
2009
Rankings
2008
Rankings
2007
Rankings
2006
Rankings
2005
1
1
City
Seattle, WA
Rankings
1
Rankings
1.5
Rankings
2
Rankings
1
Rankings
1
2
2
City
Washington, D.C.
Rankings
2
Rankings
3
Rankings
5
Rankings
3.5
Rankings
3
3
3
City
Minneapolis, MN
Rankings
3
Rankings
1.5
Rankings
1
Rankings
2
Rankings
2
4
4
City
Pittsburgh, PA
Rankings
4
Rankings
12
Rankings
9
Rankings
6
Rankings
8
5
5
City
Atlanta, GA
Rankings
5
Rankings
6
Rankings
8
Rankings
3.5
Rankings
4
6
6
City
Portland, OR
Rankings
6
Rankings
10.5
Rankings
12
Rankings
10
Rankings
11
7
7
City
St. Paul, MN
Rankings
7
Rankings
4
Rankings
3
Rankings
5
Rankings
9.5
8
8
City
Boston, MA
Rankings
8
Rankings
8
Rankings
10
Rankings
11
Rankings
7
9
9
City
Cincinnati, OH
Rankings
9
Rankings
10.5
Rankings
11
Rankings
7
Rankings
9.5
10
10
City
Denver, CO
Rankings
10
Rankings
7
Rankings
4
Rankings
8
Rankings
6
City
Rankings
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
Seattle, WA
1
1.5
2
1
1
Washington, D.C.
2
3
5
3.5
3
Minneapolis, MN
3
1.5
1
2
2
Pittsburgh, PA
4
12
9
6
8
Atlanta, GA
5
6
8
3.5
4
Portland, OR
6
10.5
12
10
11
St. Paul, MN
7
4
3
5
9.5
Boston, MA
8
8
10
11
7
Cincinnati, OH
9
10.5
11
7
9.5
Denver, CO
10
7
4
8
6

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