Understanding Literacy & Numeracy

Key points

What people know and what they do with that knowledge has a major impact on their overall health. The resources on this page explain literacy and numeracy, how they are measured, provide literacy and numeracy data, identify literacy policies and practices, and how to promote literacy and numeracy.

Apple sitting on a stack of books next to a laptop

What are adult literacy and numeracy?

The U.S. Department of Education defines adult literacy and numeracy in terms of skills that help people accomplish tasks and realize their purposes. Researchers can measure literacy and numeracy skills, but skills are not static. People can build their skills, and even adults with limited skills can get better results when their environments accommodate the skills they have.

  • Literacy is understanding, evaluating, using, and engaging with written text to participate in the society, to achieve one's goals and to develop one's knowledge and potential.
  • Numeracy is the ability to access, use, interpret, and communicate mathematical information and ideas, to engage in and manage mathematical demands of a range of situations in adult life.

Population measures

Adult health literacy skills

Literacy and health literacy are not the same, but they are related. The U.S. Department of Education collects and reports data on adult literacy and numeracy skills. In 2006, they published the only national data on health literacy skills. The study found that adults who self-report the worst health also have the most limited literacy, numeracy, and health literacy skills.

The Health Literacy of America's Adults: Results from the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy

Adult literacy and numeracy skills

The most current adult literacy data come from the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIACC). The PIACC is a comparative study among participating countries. It assesses adults' proficiency in three domains: literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving in technology-rich environments.

In each of these domains, adults perform tasks with different levels of complexity. Their skills with these tasks are quantified and categorized into proficiency levels. The National Center for Education Statistics posts the most current results.

Youth literacy skills

The Department of Education also collects and reports data on school-aged children and youth. Elementary school children with weak literacy and numeracy skills often struggle academically through the middle and high school years. Research shows that academic success, risky behaviors, and health status are linked.

Research

Below you will find other research studies on literacy, numeracy, and related skills and knowledge or organizations conducting research in these areas.

  • Adult Literacy Research Center (Georgia State University): This website describes one of several U.S. Department of Education-funded research centers. It also provides literacy resources and information about readability.
  • Literacy.org (University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education): Literacy.org conducts research and training in adult education, literacy, and technology in the United States and worldwide.
  • The Longitudinal Study of Adult Learning (Portland State University): The Longitudinal Study of Adult Learning project addresses key questions about the literacy development, learning, and life experiences of adults with low levels of education.

Policy, practice, and promotion.

This section contains important links that discuss policies, practices, and ideas about promoting health literacy, literacy, and numeracy.

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