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 2022 was 67.72%, a 0.12% increase from 2021.
- Sub-Saharan Africa literacy rate for 2021 was 67.59%, a 0.04% increase from 2020.
- Sub-Saharan Africa literacy rate for 2020 was 67.55%, a 0.14% increase from 2019.
- Sub-Saharan Africa literacy rate for 2019 was 67.41%, a 0.73% increase from 2018.
| Sub-Saharan Africa Literacy Rate - Historical Data |
| Year |
Literacy Rate |
Annual Change |
| 2022 |
67.72% |
0.12% |
| 2021 |
67.59% |
0.04% |
| 2020 |
67.55% |
0.14% |
| 2019 |
67.41% |
0.73% |
| 2018 |
66.68% |
1.46% |
| 2017 |
65.22% |
0.36% |
| 2016 |
64.86% |
0.73% |
| 2015 |
64.13% |
0.62% |
| 2014 |
63.51% |
0.68% |
| 2013 |
62.83% |
0.86% |
| 2012 |
61.97% |
1.18% |
| 2011 |
60.79% |
1.58% |
| 2010 |
59.21% |
0.56% |
| 2009 |
58.65% |
0.77% |
| 2008 |
57.88% |
0.16% |
| 2007 |
57.72% |
-2.54% |
| 2006 |
60.26% |
1.36% |
| 2005 |
58.90% |
-0.97% |
| 2004 |
59.87% |
1.52% |
| 2003 |
58.35% |
0.36% |
| 2002 |
57.99% |
0.49% |
| 2001 |
57.49% |
1.24% |
| 2000 |
56.25% |
-1.47% |
| 1999 |
57.73% |
0.86% |
| 1998 |
56.87% |
0.68% |
| 1997 |
56.19% |
0.85% |
| 1996 |
55.35% |
0.62% |
| 1995 |
54.73% |
0.29% |
| 1994 |
54.43% |
0.71% |
| 1993 |
53.72% |
0.55% |
| 1992 |
53.17% |
0.36% |
| 1991 |
52.81% |
0.47% |
| 1990 |
52.34% |
0.65% |
| 1989 |
51.69% |
0.59% |
| 1988 |
51.10% |
0.48% |
| 1987 |
50.62% |
0.63% |
| 1986 |
49.99% |
0.32% |
| 1985 |
49.67% |
0.32% |
