Inequality in Literacy Proficiency Among Youth

Figure 4 presents information about the degree of inequality in the distribution of prose literacy scores among the young population aged 16-25 in 21 countries. The estimates are obtained by comparing the prose literacy mean score of those at the 90th percentile to those at the 10th percentile.

FIGURE 4

INEQUALITY IN LITERACY PROFICIENCY AMONG YOUTH

Inequality in the distribution of literacy (90th percentile/10th percentile) within countries, prose scale, population aged 16-25, 1992-1998


Nation with literacy inequality higher than the United States are United Kingdom, Portugal, Poland and New Zeland. Nation with literacy inequality equal to the United States are Chile, Italy and Slovenia. Nation with literacy inequality lower than the United States are Canada, Ireland, Australia, Hungary, Gremany, Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Norway, Finland and Denmark.

Legend:

Colour of legend 1 Nation with literacy inequality higher than the United States

Colour of legend 2 Nation with literacy inequality equal to the United States

Colour of legend 3 Nation with literacy inequality lower than the United States


COUNTRIES ARE RANKED BY LITERACY INEQUALITY.

Source: International Adult Literacy Survey, 1994-1998; US National Adult Literacy Survey, 1992.