U.S. Literacy Rates Reveal Stark Gaps for Black Youth, NCES Data Shows National Literacy Performance Continues to Decline
About 21% of American adults (roughly 43 million people) have low English literacy skills, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics. But the crisis is not limited to adults. Recent federal assessments show that youth literacy, especially among Black students, has reached its lowest point in decades, deepening concerns about long‑term educational and economic inequality.
NCES data from the 2024 Nation’s Report Card shows that only 17% of Black eighth‑graders read at or above proficiency, compared with 44% of White students. Among fourth‑graders, just 18% of Black students scored proficient in reading, a decline that mirrors national trends but hits Black communities harder. Overall, 34% of U.S. fourth‑graders cannot read at a basic level, signaling a multigenerational literacy emergency.
The adult literacy picture reflects similar disparities. White adults make up about 35% of Americans with low literacy, while Black adults account for roughly 23%. Hispanic adults represent the largest share at 34%. Foreign-born adults now make up about one‑third of the low‑literacy population, a significant increase from earlier estimates.
About 21% of American adults — roughly 43 million people — have low English literacy skills, according to the latest data from the National Center for Education Statistics. The findings, drawn from the most recent Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies, show that millions struggle with basic reading tasks such as interpreting short texts or following written instructions.
The demographic breakdown highlights persistent disparities. White adults make up an estimated 35% of adults with low literacy, while Black adults account for about 23%. Hispanic adults represent the largest share at 34%, a reflection of both population growth and longstanding inequities in educational access.
Foreign-born adults make up a significant portion of the low‑literacy population. NCES estimates that about one‑third of adults with low literacy were born outside the United States, a notable increase from earlier assessments. Many face barriers tied to English-language acquisition, employment demands, and limited access to adult education programs.
The report comes as . Between 2017 and 2023, U.S. adult literacy scores dropped by 12 points, and the country now ranks 14th out of 31 developed nations in adult literacy. Economists estimate the cost of low literacy at up to $2.2 trillion annually in lost productivity and increased social-service spending.
Education advocates warn that the crisis is multigenerational. NCES data shows that 34% of U.S. fourth-graders do not read at a basic level, raising concerns that the nation’s literacy challenges will deepen without major intervention.