Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Sao Tome and Principe

Sao Tome and Principe: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes was 58.4% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
58.4%
World rank
52nd
of 83 countries
All-time high
58.4%
in 2018
All-time low
24.4%
in 1981
Years of data
6
1981–2018

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Sao Tome and Principe, 1981–2018

02040601981199920181981: 24.4 %1991: 30.5 %2001: 40.4 %2008: 46.4 %2012: 49.6 %2018: 58.4 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Sao Tome and Principe is 58.4%, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.

The figure is up 25.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 58.4% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 24.4%, in 1981.

Sao Tome and Principe ranks 52nd of 83 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year

Annual values for Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%) in Sao Tome and Principe, 1981 to 2018.
Year % Change
1981 24.4%
1991 30.5% +25.2%
2001 40.4% +32.5%
2008 46.4% +14.8%
2012 49.6% +6.8%
2018 58.4% +17.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 24.4% 24.4% 24.4% 1
1990s 30.5% 30.5% 30.5% 1
2000s 43.4% 40.4% 46.4% 2
2010s 54.0% 49.6% 58.4% 2

Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe

  1. 49 Honduras 61.4% compare
  2. 50 Zambia 60.2% compare
  3. 51 Lao People's Democratic Republic 58.6% compare
  4. 53 Oman 56.9% compare
  5. 54 Eswatini 55.9% compare
  6. 55 South Africa 54.5% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Sao Tome and Principe

All data for Sao Tome and Principe →

Frequently asked questions

What is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Sao Tome and Principe?
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Sao Tome and Principe was 58.4% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
The highest recorded value was 58.4% in 2018.
What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
The lowest recorded value was 24.4% in 1981.
How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes?
Sao Tome and Principe ranks 52nd out of 83 countries with data for 2018.
Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
Over the last ten years it is up 25.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Sao Tome and Principe 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 Sao Tome and Principe. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/elderly-literacy-rate-population-65-years-both-sexes-percent/sao-tome-and-principe/

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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.