Census: 13% of the population over 6 can’t read or write

Santo Domingo.- There are 1.1 million people over six in the country who cannot read or write (13% of the population), the National Statistics Office (ONE) revealed yesterday which cited data from the 2010 census.

It said the figure was 16% for the 2002 census, while the illiteracy rate among 15 to 24 year-olds reached 6%.

The ONE said Pedernales province’s 29% is the country’s highest number of people who don’t read or write. "Elías Piña follows Pedernales, with 20% and Independencia with 17 percent.”

The "Status of literacy in the Dominican population: findings from the 2010 census" said illiteracy among children (6-14) is 14.7% and for adults (15 and older) is 12.8%. "In absolute terms these figures mean 254,238 children and 851,396 illiterate adults, respectively."

The study adds that in the group below 55, men are illiterate than women.