Literacy Rate and the Standard of Living in

Europe

Literacy Rate & Standard of Living

• Literacy Rate is the amount of people in a country who can read and write

• Standard of Living = good education, health care, and access to technology

GDP

GDP: Gross Domestic Product

GDP is the amount of goods and services produced by a country

GDP per capita (person) is the average amount of goods and services produced by each person in a country

Literacy: the ability to read and write

COUNTRY LITERACY RATE

GDP PER CAPITA

United Kingdom 99% $37,700

France 99% $40,400

Russia 100% $24,800

Germany 98% $44,700

Italy 99% $34,500

United States 99% $54,800

USUALLY….

LITERACY = STANDARD OF LIVING

LITERACY = LOWER STANDARD OF LIVING

Most LiterateMost Literate Least LiterateLeast Literate

Estonia 99.8%

Latvia 99.8%Italy 98.9%

Turkey 88.7%

Literacy in Europe

High Literacy Rate

High literacy rates are usually found in industrialized countries.

Industrialized countries depend on manufacturing for their wealth.

They use the wealth to provide education, health care, and access to technology for their citizens.

They usually have a high standard of living.

Examples: U.S. & most of Europe

Low Literacy Rate

Low literacy rates are usually found in 3rd world countries.

3rd world countries depend on farming for their wealth.

3rd world countries are poor, and their people are uneducated.

Without reading/writing skills, people can’t get good jobs or pay for school.

Third World Countries

Third world or unindustrialized countries are usually based on basic farming and have fewer jobs in industry, technology and communication.

They usually have lower literacy rates because the country does not have education for everyone

Only people who have enough money to pay for good schools can get an education.

Third World Countries Cont.

Without education people can not get good jobsCountries whose economies are more based on

farming (agriculture) and do not have many jobs in industry, communication, and technology are usually poorer and less educated.

• In many of these countries only wealthy children are able to go to quality schools or even go to school at all. In some cultures only wealthy boys are able to attend school.

• These countries have a lower literacy rate because many of their people can not read or write and have little hope of getting a good paying job.

Vicious Cycle in 3rd World Countries

Russia – Doesn’t Fit

High literacy rate but lower standard of living than rest of Europe

Why? The government requires children to be educated. The government used to control the economy, so the GDP was low and not very productive.

Changes: government is increasing manufacturing & communications jobs

People’s salaries & standard of living are increasing

Question 1

• People in third world countries haveA. The best jobs at the best payB. Little access to good educationC. A higher literacy rateD. A higher standard of living

Question 2

• Why does Russia have such a high literacy rate but such a low GDP?A. Russians don’t want to make more moneyB. Education isn’t provided for childrenC. There are too many jobs and not enough workersD. The government has always required children to be

educated, but the economy is not as productive

Question 3

• A literate person is more likely to have all exceptA. Health careB. Enough income to pay for housing and foodC. Technology (cell phones/ computers)D. Uneducated children

Answer 1

People in 3rd world countries have

Little education

Answer 2

Why does Russia have such a high literacy rate but such a low GDP?

The government has always required children to be educated, but the economy is not as productive

Answer 3

A literate person in a developed country is most likely to have all EXCEPT which item?

Uneducated children