The graph indicates the estimated world literacy rates by region and by gender for the year 2000. In general, the rate of literacy in developed countries, Latin America and East Asia are higher than the countries from Sub-Saharan Africa, Arab States and South Asia. Moreover, the proportions of male that are literacy are higher than women.

It can be seen in the graph that developed countries had the highest percentages of literacy in the world. It was only around 98 % and 97% for male and female respectively. Similarly, Latin America and East Asia regions also had many more people who are literacy than other regions. There were approximately 90% and 88% in literacy proportion of Latin America countries for man and woman respectively. In addition, in East Asia there were around 7% and 20% male and female respectively who are illiteracy.

In contrast to those countries above, in South Asia region, the highest percentage of illiteracy was dominated in the world. There was only around 65% in man and 45% in women who are literacy. Furthermore, Sub-Saharan Africa and Arab States countries also had low literacy proportion. There were approximately 68% in male and 51% in female and 71% in man and 48% in woman for Sub-Saharan Africa and Arab States regions respectively.