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

Senegal: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 44.0% in 2017. ▲ Rising

Latest (2017)
44.0%
World rank
77th
of 83 countries
All-time high
47.1%
in 2011
All-time low
22.4%
in 1988
Years of data
7
1988–2017

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Senegal, 1988–2017

010203040501988200220171988: 22.4 %2002: 35.5 %2006: 38.8 %2009: 42.4 %2011: 47.1 %2013: 38.2 %2017: 44 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

Senegal recorded 44.0% for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in 2017.

The figure is up 13.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Senegal peaked at 47.1% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 22.4%, in 1988.

That places Senegal 77th out of 83 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 22.4% 22.4% 22.4% 1
2000s 38.9% 35.5% 42.4% 3
2010s 43.1% 38.2% 47.1% 3

Countries ranked near Senegal

  1. 74 Nigeria 57.4% compare
  2. 75 Mozambique 57.2% compare
  3. 76 Pakistan 52.3% compare
  4. 78 Côte d'Ivoire 42.5% compare
  5. 79 Central African Republic 37.2% compare
  6. 80 Benin 34.9% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Senegal

All data for Senegal →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Senegal?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Senegal was 44.0% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Senegal?
The highest recorded value was 47.1% in 2011.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Senegal?
The lowest recorded value was 22.4% in 1988.
How does Senegal rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
Senegal ranks 77th out of 83 countries with data for 2017.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Senegal?
Over the last ten years it is up 13.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Senegal 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 Senegal. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 20 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-both-sexes-percent/senegal/

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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.