Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Mozambique

Mozambique: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes was 31.1% in 2017. ▲ Rising

Latest (2017)
31.1%
Change on year
up 19.7%
World rank
71st
of 83 countries
All-time high
31.1%
in 2017
All-time low
7.4%
in 1980
Years of data
6
1980–2017

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Mozambique, 1980–2017

510152025301980199820171980: 7.4 %1997: 14.6 %2003: 18.8 %2009: 21.1 %2015: 26 %2017: 31.1 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Mozambique is 31.1%, measured in 2017. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.

That represents a change of up 19.7% on the previous year and up 47.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Mozambique peaked at 31.1% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 7.4%, in 1980.

That places Mozambique 71st out of 83 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Mozambique, year by year

Annual values for Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%) in Mozambique, 1980 to 2017.
Year % Change
1980 7.4%
1997 14.6% +96.2%
2003 18.8% +28.8%
2009 21.1% +12.4%
2015 26.0% +23.0%
2017 31.1% +19.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 7.4% 7.4% 7.4% 1
1990s 14.6% 14.6% 14.6% 1
2000s 20.0% 18.8% 21.1% 2
2010s 28.6% 26.0% 31.1% 2

Countries ranked near Mozambique

  1. 68 Algeria 33.5% compare
  2. 69 Egypt 32.9% compare
  3. 70 Central African Republic 32.8% compare
  4. 72 Burundi 30.8% compare
  5. 73 Rwanda 29.0% compare
  6. 74 Nigeria 28.3% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Mozambique

All data for Mozambique →

Frequently asked questions

What is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Mozambique?
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Mozambique was 31.1% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Mozambique?
The highest recorded value was 31.1% in 2017.
What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Mozambique?
The lowest recorded value was 7.4% in 1980.
How does Mozambique rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes?
Mozambique ranks 71st out of 83 countries with data for 2017.
Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Mozambique?
Over the last ten years it is up 47.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Mozambique data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Mozambique. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 25 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/elderly-literacy-rate-population-65-years-both-sexes-percent/mozambique/

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About this data

Indicator
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
122 places, 2,190 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Percentage of the population age 65 and above 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 65 years and over by the corresponding age group population and multiplying the result by 100.