Egypt's Illiteracy rates increase in 2013: CAPMAS report

In 2013, illiteracy rates reached 25.9 percent, with 17.2 million illiterate Egyptians, while in 2012 the rate was 24.9 percent with 16.1 million Egyptians unable to read or write, according to the agency.

From figures in this year's report, 10.9 million women are among the total number of illiterate Egyptians in 2013.

The highest rates of illiteracy are in Upper Egypt, the report highlighted.

The agency also said that the rate of illiteracy among youth, ranging from 15 years, is 29.8 percent, while the rate among the elderly, ranging from 60 years or more, is 64.9 percent.