The document discusses literacy rates in different regions of Asia. Some key points: - Literacy rate is defined as the percentage of people aged 15 and over in a country who can read and write. A higher literacy rate correlates with greater potential for a country's development. - Literacy rates vary widely across South Asia, from 53.5% in Bangladesh to 94.2% in Sri Lanka. Rates are generally higher in Central and East Asia, ranging from 88.7% in Turkey to 99% in Japan. - Southeast Asia also shows variation, from 50% in East Timor to 95.9% in Singapore, with most countries having literacy rates over 90%.