Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 61.8% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1984–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa is 61.8%, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 13.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 61.8% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 43.2%, in 1984.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 31st out of 38 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 43.2% | — |
| 1985 | 43.5% | +0.9% |
| 1986 | 44.0% | +1.0% |
| 1987 | 44.7% | +1.6% |
| 1988 | 45.3% | +1.5% |
| 1989 | 45.9% | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 46.7% | +1.7% |
| 1991 | 47.4% | +1.5% |
| 1992 | 47.9% | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 48.6% | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 49.5% | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 50.0% | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 50.9% | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 51.9% | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 52.9% | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 53.8% | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 52.7% | -1.9% |
| 2001 | 53.8% | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 54.2% | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 54.8% | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 55.8% | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 55.4% | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 56.8% | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 53.8% | -5.4% |
| 2008 | 54.0% | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 54.5% | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 55.2% | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 56.6% | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 57.8% | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 58.6% | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 59.4% | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 60.0% | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 60.7% | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 60.9% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 61.4% | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 61.8% | +0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 44.4% | 43.2% | 45.9% | 6 |
| 1990s | 49.9% | 46.7% | 53.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 54.6% | 52.7% | 56.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 59.2% | 55.2% | 61.8% | 10 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More reference data data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 16.22 million number (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 15.81 million number (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, both sexes 6.17 years (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 32.03 million number (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, female 6.02 years (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, male 6.33 years (2019)
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in general 94.2% (2018)
- School life expectancy, pre-primary, both sexes 0.78 years (2019)
- Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, adjusted gender parity 0.767 GPIA (2018)
- Teachers in primary education, male 2.57 million number (2019)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa was 61.8% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 61.8% in 2019.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 43.2% in 1984.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 31st out of 38 groups with data for 2019.
- Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa 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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About this data
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.