Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male in Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male was 44.4% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
44.4%
World rank
81st
of 83 countries
All-time high
44.4%
in 2018
All-time low
11.8%
in 1975
Years of data
9
1975–2018

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male in Burkina Faso, 1975–2018

102030401975199620181975: 11.8 %1991: 17.5 %1996: 16.1 %2003: 26.5 %2005: 29.2 %2006: 26.1 %2007: 35.2 %2014: 40.8 %2018: 44.4 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2018, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male in Burkina Faso stood at 44.4%. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.

The figure is up 26.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male in Burkina Faso peaked at 44.4% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 11.8%, in 1975.

That places Burkina Faso 81st out of 83 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male in Burkina Faso, year by year

Annual values for Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male (%) in Burkina Faso, 1975 to 2018.
Year % Change
1975 11.8%
1991 17.5% +48.8%
1996 16.1% -8.1%
2003 26.5% +64.9%
2005 29.2% +10.1%
2006 26.1% -10.6%
2007 35.2% +34.9%
2014 40.8% +15.8%
2018 44.4% +8.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 11.8% 11.8% 11.8% 1
1990s 16.8% 16.1% 17.5% 2
2000s 29.3% 26.1% 35.2% 4
2010s 42.6% 40.8% 44.4% 2

Countries ranked near Burkina Faso

  1. 78 Central African Republic 50.4% compare
  2. 79 Cote d'Ivoire 49.7% compare
  3. 80 Benin 47.7% compare
  4. 82 Mali 42.7% compare
  5. 83 Chad 28.4% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Burkina Faso

All data for Burkina Faso →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male in Burkina Faso?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male in Burkina Faso was 44.4% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male recorded in Burkina Faso?
The highest recorded value was 44.4% in 2018.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male recorded in Burkina Faso?
The lowest recorded value was 11.8% in 1975.
How does Burkina Faso rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male?
Burkina Faso ranks 81st out of 83 countries with data for 2018.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male rising or falling in Burkina Faso?
Over the last ten years it is up 26.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Burkina Faso data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male in Burkina Faso. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-male-percent/burkina-faso/

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About this data

Indicator
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
122 places, 2,219 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Percentage of the male 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 male literates aged 25-64 years by the corresponding age group population and multiplying the result by 100.