International Literacy Day 2025- September 8

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s International Literacy Day (ILD), observed globally every year on 8 September to highlight the vital role of literacy in empowering individuals and fostering community and societal development.

Theme:

2025 Theme: “Promoting Literacy in the Digital Era.”

Significance:The theme emphasizes the importance of equipping individuals with the skills needed to navigate and thrive in a rapidly digitalizing world.

Background:

Origins: The idea of celebrating ILD was first proposed during the inaugural World Congress of Ministers of Education on the Eradication of Illiteracy, held in Tehran, Iran in 1965.

• The Congress suggested 8 September (the opening day of the Congress) as ILD.

Adoption: In 1966, the UNESCO General Conference at its 14th session in Paris, France, adopted Resolution 14 C/1.441, officially proclaiming 8 September of every year as ILD.

First Observance: The first ILD was celebrated on 8 September 1967.

Link to SDG 4: ILD aligns with the United Nations(UN’s) Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), promoting inclusive and quality education for all.

Keyfacts:

Youth Literacy Progress: From nearly one in four young people (15–24) being illiterate half a century ago, literacy among youth reached 93% in 2024 due to the expansion of formal education.

Persistent Literacy Gaps: Despite progress, one in ten youth and adults (739 million) still lacked basic literacy, disproportionately affecting women and vulnerable populations.

• About 80% reside in 31 countries targeted by UNESCO’s Global Alliance for Literacy (GAL).

Internet and Mobile Usage: Nearly seven out of ten people (68%) worldwide use the Internet, while four out of five individuals aged 10 or older own a mobile phone.

AI Applications: Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered applications have been rapidly adopted across sectors such as health care, transportation, and natural disaster management.

2025 Events:

UNESCO Global Event :

Event: UNESCO hosted a global event in Paris, France, featuring discussions, panel sessions, and an awards ceremony for its International Literacy Prizes.

Conference:A global conference held on 8 September 2025 at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France.

UNESCO International Literacy Prizes (ILP): Since 1967, UNESCO’s International Literacy Prizes have recognized excellence and innovation in literacy, awarding over 500 initiatives worldwide.

• UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize (3 awards): Established in 1989 by the Republic of Korea, it recognizes mother-tongue and multilingual literacy initiatives; each laureate receives a medal, diploma, and USD20,000.
• UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy (3 awards): Established in 2005 by China, it honors functional literacy programmes for rural and out-of-school youth, often leveraging technology; each laureate receives a medal, diploma, and USD30,000.

ILD 2025 Celebration – India: 

Event: Union Minister of State(MoS) Jayant Chaudhary, Ministry of Education(MoE), addressed the ILD 2025 celebration organized by the Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSEL), MoE, at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi(Delhi).

• Himachal Pradesh(HP) became the fourth state in India to achieve full functional literacy, joining Tripura, Mizoram, and Goa.
• In 2024, Ladakh was declared the first Union Territory(UT) to attain full literacy.

ULLAS Compendium : During the event, the ULLAS Compendium was released, featuring a diverse collection of teaching and learning materials that highlight India’s linguistic, cultural, and social heritage

ULLAS Literacy Week 2025: To mark the occasion, the Government of India (GoI) organised ULLAS Literacy Week 2025 from September 1 to 8, 2025, conducting a nationwide literacy drive to register non-literates, volunteers, and neo-learners across all States and UTs.

About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO):
Director-General (DG)- Audrey Azoulay
Headquarters– Paris, France
Established-1945