Bahia continues to be one of the Brazilian states with the highest illiteracy rates. According to survey data PNAD Continua Educação 2025, published by the IBGE, approximately 1.1 million Bahians aged 15 and over cannot read or write.
The survey shows that the illiteracy rate in the state is equal to 9.5%, almost double the national average, dropped to 4.9%, the lowest level ever recorded by the Brazilian statistics institute.
The data are particularly worrying among the elderly population. In Bahia, in fact, approximately one in three people over 60 are illiterate, a figure that reflects the historical difficulties in accessing education experienced by previous generations.
Although Brazil has seen a further reduction in illiteracy, statistics show that Bahia continues to face significant challenges in expanding access to education and reducing educational inequalities.