The chart published by the USA Today, based on data is from the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) shows literacy levels among American aged between 16 and 74.
The chart shows that 22% of Americans present literacy skills at level 1 or below. It means that they have difficulty completing tasks that require comparing and contrasting information, paraphrasing, or making low-level inferences.
78% of Americans score at the level 2 or above, which means they can complete the above mentioned tasks.
To paint a bigger picture, USA Today quotes the US Department of Education:
💬 In the U.S., nearly 130 million American adults read below a sixth-grade level — that number represents more than half the adult US population.
The low literacy rates in the United States are a concerning trend. They have a negative impact on people’s lives in many ways, including problems in school, difficulty finding and keeping a job, and social isolation.
Click on the chart to see it enlarged.
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