Sub-Saharan Africa Literacy Rate 1985-2021
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 2019 was 65.47%, a 0.43% increase from 2018.
- Sub-Saharan Africa literacy rate for 2018 was 65.04%, a 0.52% increase from 2017.
- Sub-Saharan Africa literacy rate for 2017 was 64.52%, a 0.26% increase from 2016.
- Sub-Saharan Africa literacy rate for 2016 was 64.26%, a 0.71% increase from 2015.
| Sub-Saharan Africa Literacy Rate - Historical Data |
| Year |
Literacy Rate |
Annual Change |
| 2019 |
65.47% |
0.43% |
| 2018 |
65.04% |
0.52% |
| 2017 |
64.52% |
0.26% |
| 2016 |
64.26% |
0.71% |
| 2015 |
63.55% |
0.60% |
| 2014 |
62.95% |
0.65% |
| 2013 |
62.30% |
0.86% |
| 2012 |
61.44% |
1.13% |
| 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% |
0.44% |
| 2002 |
57.46% |
0.50% |
| 2001 |
56.97% |
0.98% |
| 2000 |
55.98% |
-1.37% |
| 1999 |
57.35% |
0.82% |
| 1998 |
56.54% |
0.65% |
| 1997 |
55.89% |
0.86% |
| 1996 |
55.03% |
0.68% |
| 1995 |
54.35% |
0.30% |
| 1994 |
54.06% |
0.75% |
| 1993 |
53.31% |
0.59% |
| 1992 |
52.72% |
0.47% |
| 1991 |
52.25% |
0.40% |
| 1990 |
51.85% |
0.68% |
| 1989 |
51.17% |
0.61% |
| 1988 |
50.56% |
0.50% |
| 1987 |
50.06% |
0.65% |
| 1986 |
49.41% |
0.36% |
| 1985 |
49.05% |
0.36% |
