Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso: Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes was 4.31 million number in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
4.31 million number
World rank
13th
of 83 countries
All-time high
4.31 million number
in 2018
All-time low
1.94 million number
in 1975
Years of data
9
1975–2018

Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Burkina Faso, 1975–2018

01.0M2.0M3.0M4.0M1975199620181975: 1.9M number1991: 2.4M number1996: 2.8M number2003: 3.1M number2005: 3.3M number2006: 3.5M number2007: 3.3M number2014: 4.0M number2018: 4.3M number

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

The most recent figure for illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Burkina Faso is 4.31 million number, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.

The figure is up 31.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Burkina Faso peaked at 4.31 million number in 2018 and was at its lowest, 1.94 million number, in 1975.

Burkina Faso ranks 13th of 83 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Burkina Faso, year by year

Annual values for Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes (number) in Burkina Faso, 1975 to 2018.
Year number Change
1975 1.94 million number
1991 2.41 million number +24.4%
1996 2.78 million number +15.4%
2003 3.15 million number +13.1%
2005 3.29 million number +4.4%
2006 3.47 million number +5.6%
2007 3.29 million number -5.1%
2014 3.96 million number +20.2%
2018 4.31 million number +9.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 1.94 million number 1.94 million number 1.94 million number 1
1990s 2.60 million number 2.41 million number 2.78 million number 2
2000s 3.30 million number 3.15 million number 3.47 million number 4
2010s 4.13 million number 3.96 million number 4.31 million number 2

Countries ranked near Burkina Faso

  1. 10 Côte d'Ivoire 4.98 million number compare
  2. 11 Nepal 4.56 million number compare
  3. 12 Indonesia 4.38 million number compare
  4. 14 Mali 4.07 million number compare
  5. 15 Mozambique 3.92 million number compare
  6. 16 Uganda 3.90 million number compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Burkina Faso

All data for Burkina Faso →

Frequently asked questions

What is illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Burkina Faso?
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Burkina Faso was 4.31 million number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Burkina Faso?
The highest recorded value was 4.31 million number in 2018.
What is the lowest illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Burkina Faso?
The lowest recorded value was 1.94 million number in 1975.
How does Burkina Faso rank for illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes?
Burkina Faso ranks 13th out of 83 countries with data for 2018.
Is illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Burkina Faso?
Over the last ten years it is up 31.0%. 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 Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Burkina Faso. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 26 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/illiterate-population-25-64-years-both-sexes-number/burkina-faso/

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About this data

Indicator
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
122 places, 2,239 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Total number of adults from age 25 to age 64 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life.