Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso: Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes was 64.2% in 2014. ▲ Rising

Latest (2014)
64.2%
World rank
39th
of 41 countries
All-time high
64.2%
in 2014
All-time low
40.9%
in 1996
Years of data
7
1991–2014

Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Burkina Faso, 1991–2014

02040601991200220141991: 44.4 %1996: 40.9 %2003: 56.3 %2005: 59 %2006: 53.2 %2007: 62.7 %2014: 64.2 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2014, adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Burkina Faso stood at 64.2%. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 14.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Burkina Faso peaked at 64.2% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 40.9%, in 1996.

That places Burkina Faso 39th out of 41 countries with data for 2014, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Burkina Faso, year by year

Annual values for Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes (%) in Burkina Faso, 1991 to 2014.
Year % Change
1991 44.4%
1996 40.9% -7.9%
2003 56.3% +37.7%
2005 59.0% +4.8%
2006 53.2% -9.8%
2007 62.7% +18.0%
2014 64.2% +2.3%

Burkina Faso compared with similar countries

  • Burkina Faso's 64.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 72.6%, 88% of the median. (6 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 42.6% 40.9% 44.4% 2
2000s 57.8% 53.2% 62.7% 4
2010s 64.2% 64.2% 64.2% 1

Countries ranked near Burkina Faso

  1. 36 Egypt 80.3% compare
  2. 37 Morocco 78.8% compare
  3. 38 Pakistan 75.7% compare
  4. 40 Senegal 60.9% compare
  5. 41 Mali 60.6% compare

See the full ranking of 41 places →

More reference data data for Burkina Faso

All data for Burkina Faso →

Frequently asked questions

What is adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Burkina Faso?
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Burkina Faso was 64.2% in 2014, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes recorded in Burkina Faso?
The highest recorded value was 64.2% in 2014.
What is the lowest adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes recorded in Burkina Faso?
The lowest recorded value was 40.9% in 1996.
How does Burkina Faso rank for adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes?
Burkina Faso ranks 39th out of 41 countries with data for 2014.
Is adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes rising or falling in Burkina Faso?
Over the last ten years it is up 14.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Burkina Faso data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Burkina Faso. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/adult-literacy-rate-population-15-years-urban-both-sexes-percent/burkina-faso/

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About this data

Indicator
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
41 places, 376 data points, 1976–2019
Last refreshed

Total number of adults in urban areas over age 15 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life. For more information, consult the UNESCO Institute of Statistics website: http://www.uis.unesco.org/Education/