Azerbaijan
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 99%
female: 96% (1989 est.)

Bahamas, The
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.6%
male: 94.7%
female: 96.5% (2003 est.)

Bahrain
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89.1%
male: 91.9%
female: 85% (2003 est.)

Bangladesh
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 43.1%
male: 53.9%
female: 31.8% (2003 est.)

Barbados
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 97.4%
male: 98%
female: 96.8% (1995 est.)

Belarus
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.5% (2003 est.)

Belgium
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Belize
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.1%
male: 94.1%
female: 94.1% (2003 est.)

Benin
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.9%
male: 56.2%
female: 26.5% (2000)

Bermuda
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 99% (1970 est.)