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Literacy is a critical factor in determining an individual's ability to participate in society and the workforce. In the United States, the National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL) categorizes literacy into three key types: prose, document, and quantitative. However, despite nationwide efforts to improve education, literacy rates continue to vary significantly across the country due to unequal access to educational resources.
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Regional Disparities in Literacy
The gap between New Hampshire (94.2%) and California (76.9%) reflects deep regional divides in educational access and quality. This 17.3 percentage point difference underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions in underperforming states.
Complete US State-by-State Literacy Rate Table
Explore how each U.S. state ranks in adult literacy. See where your state stands in this nationwide comparison:
| Region | Literacy Rate | High School Completion Rate |
| New Hampshire | 94.2 | 93.3 |
| Minnesota | 94 | 93.4 |
| North Dakota | 93.7 | 93.1 |
| Vermont | 93.4 | 93.5 |
| South Dakota | 93 | 92.2 |
| Nebraska | 92.7 | 91.6 |
| Wisconsin | 92.7 | 92.6 |
| Maine | 92.6 | 93.2 |
| Missouri | 92.5 | 90.6 |
| Iowa | 92.5 | 92.5 |
| Kansas | 92.2 | 91.4 |
| Indiana | 92 | 89.3 |
| Michigan | 91.7 | 91.3 |
| Rhode Island | 91.5 | 89.2 |
| Connecticut | 91.4 | 90.9 |
| Montana | 91.2 | 94 |
| Wyoming | 91.1 | 93.6 |
| Ohio | 90.9 | 90.8 |
| Alaska | 90.8 | 93.1 |
| Utah | 90.6 | 93 |
| Washington | 90.2 | 91.7 |
| Massachusetts | 90.1 | 91.1 |
| Colorado | 90.1 | 92.1 |
| Oregon | 89.8 | 91.1 |
| Idaho | 89.5 | 91.3 |
| Maryland | 88.8 | 90.6 |
| Virginia | 88 | 90.3 |
| Kentucky | 87.8 | 87.2 |
| Oklahoma | 87.7 | 88.6 |
| Pennsylvania | 87.4 | 91 |
| Illinois | 87.1 | 89.7 |
| Arizona | 86.9 | 87.9 |
| Tennessee | 86.8 | 88.2 |
| West Virginia | 86.6 | 87.6 |
| North Carolina | 86.4 | 88.5 |
| Arkansas | 86.3 | 87.2 |
| South Carolina | 85.3 | 88.3 |
| Alabama | 85.2 | 86.9 |
| Hawaii | 84.1 | 92.5 |
| Mississippi | 84 | 85.3 |
| Louisiana | 84 | 85.9 |
| Nevada | 83.9 | 86.9 |
| New Mexico | 83.5 | 86.5 |
| Georgia | 83.3 | 87.9 |
| New Jersey | 83.1 | 90.3 |
| Texas | 81 | 84.4 |
| Florida | 80.3 | 88.5 |
| New York | 77.9 | 87.2 |
| California | 76.9 | 83.9 |
| Delaware | 89.3 | 90.6 |
Conclusion
The wide variation in literacy rates across U.S. states signals the importance of addressing regional disparities in education. While the Northeast and Midwest continue to perform well, Southern and Western states must prioritize literacy-focused policies and resource allocation to close the gap.
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