9 in 10 Pinoys have basic literacy - PSA

Seven in 10 Filipinos aged 10 to 64 years are functionally literate while nine in 10 Filipinos aged five and above can read, write and perform basic mathematics, based on the 2024 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS) released by the Philippine Statistics Authority.

- By BELLA CARIASO

The final PSA report said that 90 percent of Filipinos aged five and older - or around 93.09 million out of the estimated 103.46 million possess basic literacy skills.

PSA National Statistician and chief civil registrar Claire Dennis Mapa explained that the 2024 FLEMMS adopted a revised operational definition and methodology for measuring literacy, as approved under PSA Board Resolution 13, Series of 2024.

Basic literacy, under this framework, refers to the ability to read and write a simple message in any language or dialect with comprehension and to carry out basic arithmetic.