International Literacy Day 2025

International Literacy Day is observed worldwide on September 08, 2025. The day was proclaimed by UNESCO on November 17, 1965 and first celebrated in 1966. Its aim is to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies. On International Literacy Day each year, UNESCO reminds the international community of the status of literacy and adult learning globally.

Some 776 million adults lack minimum literacy skills; one in five adults is still not literate and two-thirds of them are women; 75 million children are out-of-school and many more attend irregularly or drop out. Next to the writer’s engagement, there are various companies and charity organizations that support the fight against illiteracy. Literacy Day also signifies the recognition of the country to strive towards total and complete literacy for the nation.

Literacy has been described as the ability to read for knowledge and write coherently and think critically about the written word. Literacy can also include the ability to understand all forms of communication, be it body language, pictures, video or sound (reading, speaking, listening and viewing). Evolving definitions of literacy often include all the symbol systems relevant to a particular community. (With material from: Wikipedia)

More dates:

• International Literacy Day on Sep 08, 2026
• International Literacy Day on Sep 08, 2027
• International Literacy Day on Sep 08, 2028