Illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)

Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries): Illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female was 61.4% in 2019. ▬ Flat

Latest (2019)
61.4%
Change on year
down 0.1%
Rank
22nd
of 38 groups
All-time high
63.7%
in 2004
All-time low
61.4%
in 2019
Years of data
36
1984–2019

Illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), 1984–2019

02040601984200120191984: 61.71985: 61.81986: 61.91987: 62.11988: 62.21989: 62.31990: 62.51991: 62.51992: 62.81993: 62.91994: 63.11995: 62.91996: 631997: 631998: 63.21999: 63.22000: 632001: 63.12002: 63.42003: 63.32004: 63.72005: 63.42006: 62.12007: 622008: 61.92009: 622010: 61.92011: 622012: 62.12013: 62.12014: 62.12015: 61.92016: 61.82017: 61.52018: 61.52019: 61.4

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) recorded 61.4% for illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 0.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 63.7% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 61.4%, in 2019.

Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 22nd of 38 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year

Annual values for Illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), 1984 to 2019.
Year Value Change
1984 61.7%
1985 61.8% +0.2%
1986 61.9% +0.1%
1987 62.1% +0.2%
1988 62.2% +0.2%
1989 62.3% +0.2%
1990 62.5% +0.2%
1991 62.5% +0.0%
1992 62.8% +0.5%
1993 62.9% +0.2%
1994 63.1% +0.3%
1995 62.9% -0.2%
1996 63.0% +0.1%
1997 63.0% +0.1%
1998 63.2% +0.2%
1999 63.2% +0.1%
2000 63.0% -0.4%
2001 63.1% +0.2%
2002 63.4% +0.4%
2003 63.3% -0.2%
2004 63.7% +0.6%
2005 63.4% -0.5%
2006 62.1% -2.1%
2007 62.0% -0.1%
2008 61.9% -0.2%
2009 62.0% +0.2%
2010 61.9% -0.1%
2011 62.0% +0.1%
2012 62.1% +0.2%
2013 62.1% -0.0%
2014 62.1% -0.0%
2015 61.9% -0.2%
2016 61.8% -0.2%
2017 61.5% -0.4%
2018 61.5% -0.1%
2019 61.4% -0.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 62.0% 61.7% 62.3% 6
1990s 62.9% 62.5% 63.2% 10
2000s 62.8% 61.9% 63.7% 10
2010s 61.8% 61.4% 62.1% 10

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)

  1. 19 Laos 67.2% compare
  2. 20 Indonesia 67.0% compare
  3. 21 Uganda 66.9% compare
  4. 22 Zambia 66.9% compare
  5. 23 Pakistan 66.1% compare
  6. 24 Montenegro 65.5% compare
  7. 25 India 64.9% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) →

Frequently asked questions

What is illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) was 61.4% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
The highest recorded value was 63.7% in 2004.
What is the lowest illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
The lowest recorded value was 61.4% in 2019.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female?
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 22nd out of 38 groups with data for 2019.
Is illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
Over the last ten years it is down 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries). Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 28 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/illiterate-population-25-64-years-percent-female/sub-saharan-africa-ida-and-ibrd-countries/

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About this data

Indicator
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female
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

Share of the adult illiterate population (age 25-64) that is female.