FIGURES & FACTS.

These figures and facts underscore the critical need to prioritize math and literacy skills while integrating comprehensive training in digital literacy, professional communication, and problem-solving abilities.

119K

Adults in DC with Low Literacy

Roughly 119,000 adults across the District struggle with essential reading, writing, and numeracy skills—an everyday barrier to economic mobility and civic participation.

(washlitcenter)

49.8%

Illiteracy Rate in Wards 7 & 8

Nearly half of adults east of the Anacostia River face low‑literacy challenges, underscoring why WLC locates many programs where the need is greatest.
(East of the River DC News)

60M

U.S. Adults with Low Literacy

Nationally, over one‑quarter of adults read at or below Level 1, limiting their ability to succeed in a knowledge‑driven workforce. (ProLiteracy)

$46B

Employer Revenue at Risk (Next 12 Months)

U.S. companies project losing $46 billion in revenue in the coming year because workers lack adequate literacy skills—highlighting a critical talent‑pipeline issue. (ALL IN)

$8,000

Average Annual Cost
to Teach a Learner

Comprehensive instruction, individualized tutoring, digital‑skills coaching, and career navigation average $8,000 per learner—an investment that yields lifelong dividends for families and the local economy. (WLC program data)

22%

Adults at PIAAC Level 1 or Below

Just over one‑fifth of District residents ages 16–65 score in the lowest proficiency band on the OECD Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies, signalling limited ability to process routine written information.

(National Center for Education Statistics)

2.2 T

Annual GDP Lost to Low Literacy (U.S.)

Gallup and the Barbara Bush Foundation estimate that bringing all adults to a sixth‑grade reading level could unlock an additional
10 % of U.S. GDP—about $2.2 trillion each year.
(Barbara Bush Foundation)

200+

Adult Learners Served

Annually by WLC

Through strategic partnerships, wrap‑around supports, and innovative instruction, WLC now empowers more than 200 adult learners every year—doubling reach in the past five years.
(WLC program records)

Below are the primary references that substantiate each statistic now highlighted on our website. Each citation is linked to the original public source; click on the citation link to open the web page directly.

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
Percentage with Literacy Skills at or Below Level 1 in U.S. States: 2012/2014/2017 (U.S. PIAAC Skills Map). National Center for Education Statistics
East of the River DC News
Reading Is Fundamental: Addressing Ward 7 & 8’s 49.8 Percent Adult Illiteracy Rate (Feature story referencing WLC’s 2020 literacy report). East of the River DC News
ProLiteracy
U.S. Adults Need Stronger Skills to Thrive in a Changing World (News release summarizing 2022‑23 PIAAC findings: ≈ 60 million U.S. adults at the lowest literacy levels). ProLiteracy
Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy & Gallup
Assessing the Economic Gains of Eradicating Illiteracy Nationally (Technical report estimating a $2.2 trillion annual GDP gain from universal functional literacy). Barbara Bush Foundation
Adult Literacy and Learning Impact Network (ALL IN)
Advancing Adult Literacy: Mobilizing Business & the Beltway (Survey indicating U.S. employers expect $46 billion in revenue losses next year due to low literacy). ALL IN
World Population Review
Washington, District of Columbia Population 2025 (2025 population estimate used to extrapolate the number of adults affected in D.C.). World Population Review

These sources collectively underpin the updated metrics—ensuring the Washington Literacy Center’s public data remain accurate, current, and easily verifiable.