Women make up more than two-thirds of the world's 796 million illiterate people (that's 530,666,666 women). In Cambodia, 48% of rural women are illiterate compared to 14% of rural men.

Every additional year of primary school increases girls' eventual wages by 10-20%. It also encourages them to marry later and have fewer children, and leaves them less vulnerable to violence.

While progress has been made in reducing the gender gap in urban primary school enrollment, data from 42 countries shows that rural girls are twice as likely as urban girls to be out of school.

Data from 68 countries indicates that a woman's education is a key factor in determining a child's survival. Not only does it lower infant mortality rates, but it also leads to prevention of diseases like HIV and AIDS.