Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Burundi

Burundi: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 60.8% in 2017. ▲ Rising

Latest (2017)
60.8%
Change on year
up 11.1%
World rank
70th
of 83 countries
All-time high
60.8%
in 2017
All-time low
19.4%
in 1979
Years of data
6
1979–2017

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Burundi, 1979–2017

20304050601979199820171979: 19.4 %1990: 32.2 %2000: 53.3 %2008: 41 %2014: 54.7 %2017: 60.8 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Burundi is 60.8%, measured in 2017. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.

That represents a change of up 11.1% on the previous year and up 48.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Burundi peaked at 60.8% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 19.4%, in 1979.

That places Burundi 70th out of 83 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the bottom quarter.

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

Annual values for Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%) in Burundi, 1979 to 2017.
Year % Change
1979 19.4%
1990 32.2% +66.2%
2000 53.3% +65.6%
2008 41.0% -23.1%
2014 54.7% +33.5%
2017 60.8% +11.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 19.4% 19.4% 19.4% 1
1990s 32.2% 32.2% 32.2% 1
2000s 47.1% 41.0% 53.3% 2
2010s 57.8% 54.7% 60.8% 2

Countries ranked near Burundi

  1. 67 Rwanda 70.4% compare
  2. 68 Uganda 69.9% compare
  3. 69 Egypt 67.5% compare
  4. 71 Nepal 60.7% compare
  5. 72 Malawi 59.1% compare
  6. 73 Togo 59.0% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Burundi

All data for Burundi →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Burundi?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Burundi was 60.8% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Burundi?
The highest recorded value was 60.8% in 2017.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Burundi?
The lowest recorded value was 19.4% in 1979.
How does Burundi rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
Burundi ranks 70th out of 83 countries with data for 2017.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Burundi?
Over the last ten years it is up 48.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Burundi 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 Burundi. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 22 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-both-sexes-percent/burundi/

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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.