12 answers, 5 from Myanmar's own official bodies, with a link to each figure.
The literacy rate of people aged 15 and over was 92.1% in the 2024 Population and Housing Census, 93.5% for men and 90.9% for women, according to Department of Population figures in Table 4.1 of the Handbook on Human Resources Development Indicators 2024-2025. It was 95.0% in urban areas and 90.1% in rural areas.
The census defines literacy as the ability to read and write a simple sentence in any language with understanding, and the rate covers the conventional household population. It is self-reported, not tested.
4.17 million pupils were enrolled in primary school, 1.48 million in middle school and 724,000 in high school in 2024-25, according to Department of Basic Education figures in Table 4.1 of the Handbook on Human Resources Development Indicators 2024-2025. The net enrolment ratio was 85.40% in primary, 35.10% in middle and 24.12% in high school.
Primary enrolment was 4.85 million in 2019-20 and fell to 2.56 million in 2021-22 before recovering. The totals combine all school types shown in the table, including government and private schools.
The Department of Myanmar Examinations publishes the 2026 university entrance (matriculation) exam pass lists by region and state, with files on the pass rate and top ten students, on its 2026 results page. The pass-rate file could not be opened as text on 15 October 2026, so no rate is given here.
Results for earlier years, back to 2016, are linked from the department's main website, which also posts announcements on exam applications and the release of mark sheets.
There were 22 pupils per teacher in primary schools, 16 in middle schools and 13 in high schools in 2024-25, according to Department of Basic Education figures in Table 4.1 of the Handbook on Human Resources Development Indicators 2024-2025.
The primary ratio was 1:27 in 2022-23 and 1:25 in 2023-24. Ratios are averages across schools and do not show class sizes in particular areas.
The estimated completion rate was 58.63% at primary level, 81.30% at middle level and 62.49% at high school level in 2024-25, according to Department of Basic Education estimates in Table 4.1 of the Handbook on Human Resources Development Indicators 2024-2025.
Completion rates are estimated from student flows, not tracked for individual pupils, and can swing sharply when enrolment changes: the primary rate was 76.69% in 2019-20 and 39.93% in 2022-23.
The figures below use one definition for every country, so they can differ from national figures.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2018, is 97.9%. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. East Asia & Pacific median: 93.1%; Myanmar is 1st highest of 9. Worldwide: 3rd of 69.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2018, is 77.0%. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. East Asia & Pacific median: 89.2%; Myanmar is 15th highest of 19. Of 132 countries with 2018 data, 101st highest.
In 2018, gross tertiary enrolment in Myanmar was 20.4%, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. That compares with 11.1% in 2007. It is 15th highest of 18 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 44.7%. Worldwide: 98th of 127.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the adult literacy rate in Myanmar was 93.5% in 2020. It was 89.9% in 2000. It is 8th highest of 10 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 96.9%. Worldwide: 24th of 41.
In 2019, government spending on education in Myanmar was 2.0% of GDP, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. It was 0.8% of GDP in 2011. East Asia & Pacific median: 3.8% of GDP; Myanmar is 19th highest of 22. World rank, highest first: 147th of 158.
24: that is the number of primary pupils per teacher in Myanmar for 2018, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. The peak was 31 in 2005 and the low 22 in 2016. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 20, and Myanmar placed 5th highest of 13. Of 85 countries with 2018 data, 34th highest.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the primary completion rate in Myanmar was 105.4% in 2018. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2006. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 99.2%, and Myanmar placed 4th highest of 18. Of 130 countries with 2018 data, 10th highest.
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