Which States Have The Lowest Literacy Rates In 2024?
Literacy rates are a big issue in America today, with many states facing serious challenges in basic reading and writing skills among their residents. In some places, nearly 30% of the population struggles with illiteracy, which is a shocking statistic.
These states are spread across the country, from north to south, and across different tax brackets. You might be surprised by which states made the list. Let’s dive into the 18 states with the lowest literacy rates.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island is the smallest state in America, but its literacy rates aren’t small! The percentage of the population with low literacy is 20.4%. 38% of 4th graders are below basic reading level.
New Jersey
The percentage of the New Jersey population with low literacy is 20.7%. 33% of 4th graders are below basic reading level. The state has plenty of opportunities with its close proximity to New York City and Philadelphia, but it fails to deliver good literacy rates despite high taxes.
West Virginia
The percentage of the population of West Virginia with low literacy is 20.9%. 48% of 4th graders are below basic reading level. The state is famous for its stunning mountain landscapes but also for being one of the poorest states.
North Carolina
The percentage of the population of North Carolina with low literacy is 21.3%. 39% of 4th graders are below basic reading level. North Carolina has the gorgeous Appalachian mountains in the west and the truly one-of-a-kind Outer Banks along the ocean to the East.
Tennessee
Tennessee’s population has a low literacy rate of 21.7%. 41% of 4th graders are below the basic reading level. The state is home to the legendary Nashville music scene and the Smoky Mountains National Park.
Kentucky
The percentage of Kentucky’s population with low literacy is 21.9%. 38% of 4th graders are below basic reading level. Thanks to the world-famous Kentucky Derby, the state is famous for its horse racing heritage. Kentucky is covered in rolling bluegrass hills, and to the east, the Appalachian mountains.
South Carolina
The percentage of the population of South Carolina with low literacy is 22.4%. 39% of 4th graders are below basic reading level. Renowned for its historic plantations, scenic coastal areas, and the beautiful city of Charleston.
Arkansas
The percentage of Arkansas’s population with low literacy is 23.1%. 42% of 4th graders are below basic reading level. The Natural State earned its name from its untouched natural beauty, which includes the Ozark Mountains and Colorado River.
Arizona
The percentage of the population of Arizona with low literacy is 23.4%. 39% of 4th graders are below basic reading level. The state is home to the Grand Canyon, which is truly one of a kind. Arizona is known for its desert landscapes.
Georgia
The percentage of the population of Georgia with low literacy is 23.6%. 39% of 4th graders are below basic reading level. It has a mix of warm Southern hospitality, rural beauty, and the urban thrill of Atlanta.
Florida
The percentage of the population of Florida with low literacy is 23.7%. 29% of 4th graders are below basic reading level. The state is famous for its sunny beaches, warm weather, and exhilarating theme parks.
Alabama
The percentage of Alabama’s population with low literacy is 23.9%, and 41% of 4th graders are below basic reading level. The state is known as the “Heart Of The South,” so you know its Southern Hospitality is phenomenal. Alabama goes from the foothills of Appalachia to the beaches on the Gulf Of Mexico.
New York
The percentage of the population of New York with low literacy is 24.4%. 42% of 4th graders are below basic reading level. The state is home to the iconic city of New York, which is known as “the city that never sleeps.”
Louisiana
Louisiana has a low literacy rate of 27.1%, and 43% of 4th graders are below basic reading level. Louisiana is a state steeped in culture and history, from the uppity streets of New Orleans to the serene bayous of the Cajun Country.
Mississippi
Mississippi has a low literacy rate of 28%, and 37% of 4th graders are below basic reading level. The state is famous for its Southern hospitality, poverty, and scenic riverfronts.
Texas
The percentage of the Texas population with low literacy is 28.2%, and 42% of 4th graders are below basic reading level. Texas is the largest continental state, and as the saying goes, “everything is bigger in Texas.” Apparently, that doesn’t mean the literacy rates.
California
California has some of the highest taxes in the country and is the global capital of technology and entertainment. Despite this, their literacy rate is the second lowest in America. California’s population has a low literacy rate of 28.4%. 42% of 4th graders are below the basic reading level.
New Mexico
The percentage of the New Mexico population with low literacy is 29.1%. 52% of 4th graders are below basic reading level. New Mexico has the lowest literacy rate in the entire country!
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