Sub-Saharan Africa Literacy Rate 1985-2024
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 2020 was 67.27%, a 0.21% increase from 2019.
- Sub-Saharan Africa literacy rate for 2019 was 67.06%, a 0.92% increase from 2018.
- Sub-Saharan Africa literacy rate for 2018 was 66.14%, a 1.45% increase from 2017.
- Sub-Saharan Africa literacy rate for 2017 was 64.69%, a 0.38% increase from 2016.
| Sub-Saharan Africa Literacy Rate - Historical Data |
| Year |
Literacy Rate |
Annual Change |
| 2020 |
67.27% |
0.21% |
| 2019 |
67.06% |
0.92% |
| 2018 |
66.14% |
1.45% |
| 2017 |
64.69% |
0.38% |
| 2016 |
64.31% |
0.71% |
| 2015 |
63.60% |
0.59% |
| 2014 |
63.00% |
0.65% |
| 2013 |
62.35% |
0.86% |
| 2012 |
61.49% |
1.19% |
| 2011 |
60.31% |
1.57% |
| 2010 |
58.73% |
0.56% |
| 2009 |
58.18% |
0.80% |
| 2008 |
57.37% |
0.09% |
| 2007 |
57.28% |
-2.48% |
| 2006 |
59.76% |
1.24% |
| 2005 |
58.52% |
-0.98% |
| 2004 |
59.50% |
1.60% |
| 2003 |
57.91% |
0.42% |
| 2002 |
57.49% |
0.49% |
| 2001 |
56.99% |
0.98% |
| 2000 |
56.01% |
-1.38% |
| 1999 |
57.39% |
0.79% |
| 1998 |
56.60% |
0.66% |
| 1997 |
55.94% |
0.85% |
| 1996 |
55.08% |
0.67% |
| 1995 |
54.41% |
0.29% |
| 1994 |
54.12% |
0.74% |
| 1993 |
53.38% |
0.60% |
| 1992 |
52.78% |
0.48% |
| 1991 |
52.30% |
0.41% |
| 1990 |
51.89% |
0.68% |
| 1989 |
51.20% |
0.62% |
| 1988 |
50.58% |
0.51% |
| 1987 |
50.07% |
0.66% |
| 1986 |
49.41% |
0.36% |
| 1985 |
49.05% |
0.36% |
