International Literacy Day History

International Literacy Day serves to recognize the importance of literacy and acknowledge the need to create a globally literate community. Literacy refers to a person's ability to read or write, an ability that connects and empowers people, allowing them to communicate and interact with the world, and one that the United Nations considers to be a basic human right. Today, approximately 16% of the world's population, two-thirds of which is female, is unable to read or write at a basic level in their native languages. Illiteracy in nearly all parts of the world has been linked to socio-economic issues like poverty and demographic factors such as gender.

In an effort to combat illiteracy, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) created International Literacy Day in 2000. During the 2015 campaign, themed Literacy and Sustainable Societies, UNESCO stressed the importance of literacy as the most powerful accelerator of sustainable development and pledged that by 2030, the organization will ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy. International Literacy Day is observed annually on September 8th.

Top 6 Facts for International Literacy Day in 2026

• The theme for International Literacy Day 2025 and 2024 was the same Promoting multilingual education: Literacy for mutual understanding and peace. In 2023 the theme was Transforming Literacy Learning Spaces.
• According to the National Assessment of Adult Literacy, 50% of American Adults are unable to read a book at the eighth grade level and 23% of American Adults are functionally illiterate.
• Males aged 15 and over have a literacy rate of 90%, while females lag only slightly behind at 82.7%.
• UNESCO reports suggest that due to increased access to schooling for this generation, the global youth literacy rate has increased to 91% in 2015, up 8% from 1990.
• In the United States, 75% of state prison inmates and 59% of federal prison inmates did not complete high school.
• The more that you read, the more things that you will know, the more that you learn, the more places that you'll go - Dr. Seuss

In the News and Trending in the US for International Literacy Day

Top things to do in the US for International Literacy Day

• Volunteer at your local retirement home, nursing home, or hospital as a reader. Volunteering as a reader will allow you to share the joy of reading with the elderly or ill patients.
• Many libraries and even bookstores offer free readings. Check their website to find out about upcoming readings.
• Watch inspirational movies about education and literacy. Our picks: Stand and Deliver (1988); Good Will Hunting (1997); Precious (2009); Dead Poets Society (1989) and Dangerous Minds (1995).
• Attend a book fair. Some of the most popular book fairs in the United States include:
  1) Miami Book Fair
  2) Los Angeles Times Festival of Books
  3) Harlem Book Fair
  4) National Book Festival
  5) BookExpo America
• Donate books to prisons. The Prison Book Program details specific information about how the donations can be made.