Adult illiteracy rates are still high in the Lao PDR, reflecting both recent levels of educational enrolment and past educational attainment.
Literacy can be an important asset for poor people in utilizing their other assets efficiently and can mean the difference between food security and insecurity.
The CFSVA found that 75% of heads of household can read and write a simple message. For spouses the proportion was 53 %. Women (or spouses) in Phongsaly, Bokeo and Luangnamtha are especially lagging behind when it comes to literacy (20%, 28% and 35% respectively can read and write a simple message). This is also confirmed in the census data. The literacy rate for men over 15 years of age in the census was 82.5, whereas the corresponding figure for women was 63.2.
There are also differences between regions and ethnic groups regarding literacy. The Northern provinces of Phongsaly, Luangnamtha and Oudomxay have the lowest rates. While, in terms of ethnic groups, 81 percent of the Lao-Tai household heads report to be able to read and write simple messages in any language, this is true for only 33 percent of the Sino-Tibetan, 71 percent for the Austro-Asiatic and 60 percent for the Hmong-Mien groups.
While 67 percent of Lao-Tai spouses are literate, only 5 percent of Sino-Tibetan spouses report the same. This shows the limited human capital that the minority groups have at their disposal. The lack of formal education and ability to communicate through reading and writing hinder these spouses from participating in society and acquiring knowledge of ways in which to improve their livelihoods.