Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes was 36.2% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1984–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2019, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 36.2%. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.0% on the previous year and up 12.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 36.2% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 22.2%, in 1984.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 31st of 38 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 22.2% | — |
| 1985 | 22.3% | +0.4% |
| 1986 | 22.3% | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 22.5% | +0.7% |
| 1988 | 22.8% | +1.2% |
| 1989 | 22.8% | -0.0% |
| 1990 | 22.8% | +0.2% |
| 1991 | 22.3% | -2.3% |
| 1992 | 22.3% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 22.7% | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 22.8% | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 23.3% | +2.2% |
| 1996 | 23.6% | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 24.3% | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 25.2% | +3.6% |
| 1999 | 25.8% | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 25.4% | -1.6% |
| 2001 | 25.7% | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 25.7% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 26.2% | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 26.4% | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 27.1% | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 31.8% | +17.2% |
| 2007 | 29.2% | -8.1% |
| 2008 | 30.9% | +5.9% |
| 2009 | 32.2% | +4.3% |
| 2010 | 32.4% | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 32.5% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 32.7% | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 33.4% | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 34.2% | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 34.6% | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 35.6% | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 34.6% | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 35.5% | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 36.2% | +2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 22.5% | 22.2% | 22.8% | 6 |
| 1990s | 23.5% | 22.3% | 25.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 28.1% | 25.4% | 32.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 34.2% | 32.4% | 36.2% | 10 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More reference data data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 16.22 million number (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 15.81 million number (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, both sexes 6.17 years (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 32.03 million number (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, female 6.02 years (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, male 6.33 years (2019)
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in general 94.2% (2018)
- School life expectancy, pre-primary, both sexes 0.78 years (2019)
- Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, adjusted gender parity 0.767 GPIA (2018)
- Teachers in primary education, male 2.57 million number (2019)
Frequently asked questions
- What is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa was 36.2% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 36.2% in 2019.
- What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.2% in 1984.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 31st out of 38 groups with data for 2019.
- Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa 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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About this data
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.