TEHRAN, May 18 (Mehr News Agency) -- After the southeast province of Sistan Baluchestan, Tehran ranks second in illiteracy among 30 provinces of the country, the state Literacy Movement Organization announced here on Sunday.

Over 433,000 people between 10 to 49 years of age in Sistan Baluchestan are illiterate while in Tehran the number is 411,848.

About 56.5 percent of the total illiteracy rate belongs respectively to the eight provinces of Sistan Baluchestan, Tehran, Khozestan, West Azarbaijan, Razavi Khorasan, East Azarbaijan, Fars, and Kerman.

The total male literacy rate is about 94.5 percent and the rate for the female is about 88.8 percent. The rate of literacy in rural area is 84.8% and in urban areas is 94.7 percent.

... Payvand News - 05/18/08 ... --