2023 Literacy Day

International Literacy Day

8 September

Since 1967, International Literacy Day (ILD) celebrations have taken place annually around the world to remind the public of the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights, and to advance the literacy agenda towards a more literate and sustainable society. 

Despite steady progress made across the world, literacy challenges persist with at least 763 million young people and adults lacking basic literacy skills in 2020. The recent COVID-19 crisis and other crisis, such as climate change and conflicts, have been exacerbating the challenges.

Celebrations in 2023

Rapidly changing global context took a new meaning over the past years, hampering the literacy progress and widening inequalities across world regions, countries, and populations.  In low- and middle-income countries, the share of 10-year-old children who could not read and understand a simple text with comprehension has increased from 57 per cent in 2019 to an estimated 70 per cent in 2022.  

In this context, this year’s International Literacy Day will be celebrated worldwide under the theme, ‘Promoting literacy for a world in transition: Building the foundation for sustainable and peaceful societies’.   

ILD2023 will be an opportunity to join efforts to accelerate progress towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4) on education and lifelong learning and to reflect on the role of literacy in building more inclusive, peaceful, just, and sustainable societies. In doing so, it will embrace the reciprocal relations between literacy and other areas of development: Literacy is central to the creation of such societies, while progress in other areas of development contributes to generating interest and motivation of people to acquire, use, and further develop their literacy and numeracy skills.

Under this theme, ILD2023 will be celebrated at the global, regional, country, and local levels across the world. 

At the global level, a conference will be organized in person and online on Friday, 8 September 2023, in Paris, France. This global celebration will include the award ceremony of the UNESCO International Literacy Prizes to announce this year's outstanding prizewinning programmes.  

If literacy is a victory for humanity, it is a fragile one: there is always the possibility of a relapse. Let this International Literacy Day be a reminder of this - and an opportunity to honour all those who are dedicated to making universal literacy a reality, not just a goal.

UNESCO Director-General
Audrey AzoulayDirector-General of UNESCO
Literacy Day 2023 events around the world
literacy day
Promoting literacy for a world in transition: Building the foundation for sustainable and peaceful societies. Literacy Day 2023 international conference. Final report
UNESCO
2024
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Im a lifelong learner

Join the #ImALifelongLearner campaign

On International Literacy Day 2023, join the #ImALifelongLearner campaign and share your literacy learning story.

Literacy is an integral part of the right to education and the foundation of lifelong learning as well as a driver for sustainable development. The campaign serves as a reminder that the right to education is a right to lifelong learning that knows no age limits.