Sub-Saharan Africa Literacy Rate 1985-2020
Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.
- Sub-Saharan Africa literacy rate for 2018 was 65.58%, a 0.53% increase from 2017.
- Sub-Saharan Africa literacy rate for 2017 was 65.05%, a 0.26% increase from 2016.
- Sub-Saharan Africa literacy rate for 2016 was 64.79%, a 0.7% increase from 2015.
- Sub-Saharan Africa literacy rate for 2015 was 64.09%, a 0.6% increase from 2014.
| Sub-Saharan Africa Literacy Rate - Historical Data |
| Year |
Literacy Rate |
Annual Change |
| 2018 |
65.58% |
0.53% |
| 2017 |
65.05% |
0.26% |
| 2016 |
64.79% |
0.70% |
| 2015 |
64.09% |
0.60% |
| 2014 |
63.49% |
0.67% |
| 2013 |
62.82% |
0.32% |
| 2012 |
62.49% |
1.30% |
| 2011 |
61.19% |
1.63% |
| 2010 |
59.56% |
0.31% |
| 2009 |
59.25% |
1.17% |
| 2008 |
58.08% |
-0.42% |
| 2007 |
58.50% |
0.14% |
| 2006 |
58.36% |
-1.16% |
| 2005 |
59.52% |
-0.99% |
| 2004 |
60.51% |
1.88% |
| 2003 |
58.63% |
0.46% |
| 2002 |
58.17% |
0.51% |
| 2001 |
57.66% |
1.00% |
| 2000 |
56.66% |
-1.36% |
| 1999 |
58.02% |
0.83% |
| 1998 |
57.19% |
0.66% |
| 1997 |
56.53% |
0.87% |
| 1996 |
55.66% |
0.68% |
| 1995 |
54.98% |
0.29% |
| 1994 |
54.69% |
0.74% |
| 1993 |
53.95% |
0.58% |
| 1992 |
53.38% |
0.46% |
| 1991 |
52.92% |
0.39% |
| 1990 |
52.53% |
0.63% |
| 1989 |
51.89% |
0.57% |
| 1988 |
51.32% |
0.46% |
| 1987 |
50.86% |
0.60% |
| 1986 |
50.26% |
0.30% |
| 1985 |
49.96% |
0.30% |
