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[AI QUERY TO GOOGLE] US LITERACY LEVEL

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    By Administrator

    [GOOGLE AI RESPONSE]

    What is the percentage of people that read below a 6th grade level in the United States
     
     
     
    Approximately

    54% of adults in the United States read below the equivalent of a 6th-grade level. This equates to roughly 130 million people between the ages of 16 and 74. 

     
    Key Literacy Breakdown

    • Functionally Illiterate: About 21% of adults are classified as functionally illiterate, meaning they possess literacy skills below a 5th-grade level and struggle with basic reading tasks.

    • Low Proficiency: An additional 28% to 29% score at "Level 1" or "Level 2" proficiency, indicating they can handle simple reading but face significant challenges with more complex texts.

    • Economic Impact: Experts from the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy estimate that improving adult literacy to at least a 6th-grade level could generate more than $2.2 trillion annually for the U.S. economy. 

     
    Regional and Demographic Trends

    • Highest Literacy States: New Hampshire and Massachusetts consistently report the highest adult literacy rates.

    • Lowest Literacy States: California and New Mexico are currently ranked among the lowest.

    • Global Standing: Despite its economic size, the U.S. ranks 36th globally in adult literacy. 

    For more detailed data, you can review reports from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) or the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC).