Malaysia vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes

Malaysia
96.6%
in 2018
Sub-Saharan Africa
61.8%
in 2019
Malaysia rank
28th
Sub-Saharan Africa rank
32nd

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes over time

  • Malaysia
  • Sub-Saharan Africa
020406080100198019992019

How they compare

Malaysia currently reports 96.6% against 61.8% in Sub-Saharan Africa, a difference of 34.8%.

That makes Malaysia's figure about 1.6 times Sub-Saharan Africa's.

Across all 6 years both countries report, Malaysia has been ahead every year.

Malaysia ranks 28th and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 32nd of 83 countries.

Malaysia has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Malaysia Sub-Saharan Africa Difference Ahead
1990s 81.7% 47.4% 34.3% Malaysia
2000s 89.0% 52.7% 36.2% Malaysia
2010s 96.0% 59.5% 36.5% Malaysia

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes, Malaysia or Sub-Saharan Africa?
Malaysia, at 96.6% against 61.8% in Sub-Saharan Africa as of 2018.
What is the difference in literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes between Malaysia and Sub-Saharan Africa?
34.8%, with Malaysia ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Malaysia and Sub-Saharan Africa?
6 years are reported by both, from 1991 to 2018.
How do Malaysia and Sub-Saharan Africa rank globally for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
Malaysia ranks 28th and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 32nd of 83 countries.
Where does this data come from?
UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Malaysia vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/compare/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-both-sexes-percent/malaysia/sub-saharan-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
122 places, 2,220 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Percentage of the population between age 25 and age 64 who can, with understanding, read and write a short, simple statement on their everyday life. Generally, ‘literacy’ also encompasses ‘numeracy’, the ability to make simple arithmetic calculations. This indicator is calculated by dividing the number of literates aged 25-64 years by the corresponding age group population and multiplying the result by 100.