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

Rwanda: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 70.4% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
70.4%
World rank
67th
of 83 countries
All-time high
70.4%
in 2018
All-time low
31.2%
in 1978
Years of data
7
1978–2018

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Rwanda, 1978–2018

0204060801978199820181978: 31.2 %1991: 51 %2000: 60.1 %2010: 62.2 %2012: 64.2 %2014: 67.1 %2018: 70.4 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

Rwanda recorded 70.4% for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in 2018. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.

The figure is up 13.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Rwanda peaked at 70.4% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 31.2%, in 1978.

That places Rwanda 67th out of 83 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 31.2% 31.2% 31.2% 1
1990s 51.0% 51.0% 51.0% 1
2000s 60.1% 60.1% 60.1% 1
2010s 66.0% 62.2% 70.4% 4

Countries ranked near Rwanda

  1. 64 India 71.6% compare
  2. 65 Morocco 71.4% compare
  3. 66 Bangladesh 70.7% compare
  4. 68 Uganda 69.9% compare
  5. 69 Egypt 67.5% compare
  6. 70 Burundi 60.8% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Rwanda

All data for Rwanda →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Rwanda?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Rwanda was 70.4% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Rwanda?
The highest recorded value was 70.4% in 2018.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Rwanda?
The lowest recorded value was 31.2% in 1978.
How does Rwanda rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
Rwanda ranks 67th out of 83 countries with data for 2018.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Rwanda?
Over the last ten years it is up 13.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Rwanda 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 Rwanda. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 17 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-both-sexes-percent/rwanda/

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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.