Over 50% of American adults have sub 6th grade literacy. 21% of U.S. adults are illiterate

by

Literacy is the foundation on which we build full, productive lives – as individuals, as communities, and as a nation. Yet 54% of U.S. adults read below the equivalent of a sixth-grade level, and 64% of our country’s fourth graders do not read proficiently. This multigenerational challenge impacts all of us, and it is linked to some of today’s most pressing concerns, from economic growth and public health to community safety and civic engagement. National Center for Education Statistics.

https://www.thenationalliteracyinstitute.com/2024-2025-literacy-statistics

The southern region of the U.S. has a lower literacy rate than states further north, data from the National Center of Education Statistics shows.

In 2024, 21 percent of adults in the U.S. were found to be illiterate, while 54 percent of adults had a literacy below a sixth grade level, according to the National Literacy Institute.

https://www.newsweek.com/map-reveals-us-adult-literacy-rates-state-2010175