Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 33.0% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
33.0%
World rank
81st
of 83 countries
All-time high
33.0%
in 2018
All-time low
6.6%
in 1975
Years of data
9
1975–2018

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

1020301975199620181975: 6.6 %1991: 11.1 %1996: 10.2 %2003: 18 %2005: 20 %2006: 18.3 %2007: 25.1 %2014: 28.8 %2018: 33 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2018, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Burkina Faso stood at 33.0%. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 31.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Burkina Faso peaked at 33.0% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 6.6%, in 1975.

That places Burkina Faso 81st out of 83 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the bottom quarter.

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

Annual values for Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%) in Burkina Faso, 1975 to 2018.
Year % Change
1975 6.6%
1991 11.1% +66.6%
1996 10.2% -7.4%
2003 18.0% +75.4%
2005 20.0% +11.5%
2006 18.3% -8.8%
2007 25.1% +37.2%
2014 28.8% +15.0%
2018 33.0% +14.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 6.6% 6.6% 6.6% 1
1990s 10.7% 10.2% 11.1% 2
2000s 20.3% 18.0% 25.1% 4
2010s 30.9% 28.8% 33.0% 2

Countries ranked near Burkina Faso

  1. 78 Côte d'Ivoire 42.5% compare
  2. 79 Central African Republic 37.2% compare
  3. 80 Benin 34.9% compare
  4. 82 Mali 29.5% compare
  5. 83 Chad 18.7% 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 literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Burkina Faso?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Burkina Faso was 33.0% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Burkina Faso?
The highest recorded value was 33.0% in 2018.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Burkina Faso?
The lowest recorded value was 6.6% in 1975.
How does Burkina Faso rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
Burkina Faso ranks 81st out of 83 countries with data for 2018.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Burkina Faso?
Over the last ten years it is up 31.7%. 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 Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Burkina Faso. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-both-sexes-percent/burkina-faso/

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About this data

Indicator
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
122 places, 2,220 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Percentage of the population between age 25 and age 64 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 25-64 years by the corresponding age group population and multiplying the result by 100.