Islamabad: According to Gallup and Gilani Pakistan Analysis, new microdata released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) through the HIES/PSLM survey reveal a quietly encouraging trend in Pakistan's education landscape: youth literacy (ages 15-24) is improving faster than headline literacy rates, particularly among groups that historically lagged the most.

National youth literacy increased from 72% to 77%, with male youth literacy improving from 79% to 82%, and female youth literacy from 64% to 71%. Rural female youth literacy rose from 54% to 63%, a 9-point gain over six years.

While the gender gap remains, improvements in rural young women's literacy are helping narrow this divide.

Despite progress among youth, challenges in adult literacy persist, indicating the need for ongoing focus on adult education policies.

The data shows that targeted policy measures, especially those focusing on rural areas and gender disparities, are essential for continuing this positive trend. Expanding educational opportunities and improving retention rates are key to ensuring the sustainability of these gains.

Effective policy and systems can significantly impact literacy outcomes, especially when directed at historically disadvantaged groups.

With continued focus on rural areas, especially for young women, Pakistan can expect sustained improvements in youth literacy in the coming years.

This analysis underscores the importance of focusing on youth literacy as a priority in Pakistan's education agenda. The increasing literacy rates, particularly among rural young women, show that educational improvements are possible with the right interventions and focus on the most underserved populations.

Unlike overall literacy (ages 10+ or 15+), which changes slowly because it reflects decades of accumulated educational gaps, youth literacy captures what the education system is delivering today. On this forward-looking indicator, Pakistan shows meaningful progress. Nationally, youth literacy rose from 72% in 2018-19 to 77% in 2024-25. Male youth literacy increased from 79% to 82%, while female youth literacy rose from 64% to 71%, indicating that the gender gap, though still present, is narrowing rather than widening.

The most striking improvement appears among rural young women. Rural female youth literacy increased from 54% to 63%, a 9-percentage-point gain in six years. This rise outpaces gains among rural youth overall (+7 pp) and rural male youth (+4 pp), suggesting that rural young women are driving a disproportionate share of recent national progress.

While challenges remain-especially in adult literacy-the youth data suggest that policy interventions, schooling expansion, and retention efforts are translating into real gains, particularly where the starting point was lowest.

This analysis was conducted and released by Gallup and Gilani Pakistan, the Pakistani affiliate of Gallup International. It draws on microdata from the Household Integrated Economic Survey / Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement Survey (HIES/PSLM) conducted by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, covering youth literacy outcomes (ages 15-24) for the period from September 2024 to June 2025.

Gilani Research Foundation is a not-for-profit public service project to provide social science research to students, academia, policymakers, and concerned citizens in Pakistan and across the globe.

Gilani Research Foundation is headed by Dr. Ijaz Shafi Gilani who pioneered the field of opinion polling in Pakistan and established Gallup Pakistan in 1980. Currently, Dr. Gilani, who holds a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and has taught at leading universities in Pakistan and abroad, is Chairman of Gallup Pakistan.

Gallup Pakistan is not related to Gallup Inc. headquartered in Washington D.C. USA. We require that our surveys be credited fully as Gallup Pakistan (not Gallup or Gallup Poll). We disclaim any responsibility for surveys pertaining to Pakistani public opinion except those carried out by Gallup Pakistan, the Pakistani affiliate of Gallup International Association.