This dataset combines long-run cross-country literacy rates from several sources including the World Bank's WDI, CIA Factbook, and other historical data series. Key sources include Buringh & Van Zanden (2009) for data before 1800, Broadberry and O'Rourke (2010) for 1820 and 1870, and van Zanden et al. (2014) for global estimates from 1820-2000. It also includes recent estimates for high-income countries and available 2016 data from the CIA World Factbook. Note that the sources may have discrepancies and different underlying methodologies, and thus year-to-year changes should be interpreted cautiously.