48 million adults in the U.S. struggle with illiteracy, report says

A report by the U.S.-based Free Press revealed on Wednesday that one in five American adults cannot read or write, with low literacy rates closely linked to poverty and crime.

The report stated that 48 million adults in the U.S. read at or below a third-grade level, facing daily challenges unimaginable to fluent readers—such as ordering from a menu or booking a telehealth appointment.

Low literacy is associated with an estimated $2.2 trillion annually in social services, healthcare costs, and lost wages. Despite this, the issue is often ignored by both major political parties.

Federal funds initially intended to support low-literacy adults are mostly allocated to programs above the third-grade level, such as citizenship or English as a Second Language classes. Those who cannot read at all are left with very limited support.

In April, a bill called the WORKS Act was introduced in Congress to nearly double adult education funding to $1.35 billion by 2029. While it addresses digital literacy and basic skills, it lacks a clear plan to tackle the core issue: teaching adults to read.