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

Mozambique: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 57.2% in 2017. ▲ Rising

Latest (2017)
57.2%
Change on year
up 12.8%
World rank
75th
of 83 countries
All-time high
57.2%
in 2017
All-time low
17.7%
in 1980
Years of data
6
1980–2017

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Mozambique, 1980–2017

20304050601980199820171980: 17.7 %1997: 35.8 %2003: 43.5 %2009: 44.6 %2015: 50.7 %2017: 57.2 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Mozambique is 57.2%, measured in 2017. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 12.8% on the previous year and up 28.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Mozambique peaked at 57.2% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 17.7%, in 1980.

Mozambique ranks 75th of 83 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

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

Annual values for Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%) in Mozambique, 1980 to 2017.
Year % Change
1980 17.7%
1997 35.8% +102.3%
2003 43.5% +21.4%
2009 44.6% +2.6%
2015 50.7% +13.7%
2017 57.2% +12.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 17.7% 17.7% 17.7% 1
1990s 35.8% 35.8% 35.8% 1
2000s 44.0% 43.5% 44.6% 2
2010s 54.0% 50.7% 57.2% 2

Countries ranked near Mozambique

  1. 72 Malawi 59.1% compare
  2. 73 Togo 59.0% compare
  3. 74 Nigeria 57.4% compare
  4. 76 Pakistan 52.3% compare
  5. 77 Senegal 44.0% compare
  6. 78 Côte d'Ivoire 42.5% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Mozambique

All data for Mozambique →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Mozambique?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Mozambique was 57.2% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Mozambique?
The highest recorded value was 57.2% in 2017.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Mozambique?
The lowest recorded value was 17.7% in 1980.
How does Mozambique rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
Mozambique ranks 75th out of 83 countries with data for 2017.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Mozambique?
Over the last ten years it is up 28.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Mozambique 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 Mozambique. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 23 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-both-sexes-percent/mozambique/

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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.