Which has higher literacy rate, adult total, Indonesia or Sub-Saharan Africa?

Indonesia, at 96.0% against 68.7% in Sub-Saharan Africa as of 2020.

How many years of comparable data are there for Indonesia and Sub-Saharan Africa?

12 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2020.

Where does this data come from?

Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Indonesia vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Literacy rate, adult total

Indonesia

96.0%

in 2020

Sub-Saharan Africa

68.7%

in 2024

Indonesia rank

32nd

Sub-Saharan Africa rank

32nd

Literacy rate, adult total over time

Indonesia
Sub-Saharan Africa

How they compare

Indonesia currently reports 96.0% against 68.7% in Sub-Saharan Africa, a difference of 27.3%.

That makes Indonesia's figure about 1.4 times Sub-Saharan Africa's.

Across all 12 years both countries report, Indonesia has been ahead every year.

Indonesia ranks 32nd and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 32nd of 89 countries.

Indonesia has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Indonesia	Sub-Saharan Africa	Difference	Ahead
1990s	81.5%	52.3%	29.2%	Indonesia
2000s	91.8%	58.5%	33.3%	Indonesia
2010s	94.4%	63.4%	31.0%	Indonesia
2020s	96.0%	67.9%	28.1%	Indonesia

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher literacy rate, adult total, Indonesia or Sub-Saharan Africa?: Indonesia, at 96.0% against 68.7% in Sub-Saharan Africa as of 2020.
What is the difference in literacy rate, adult total between Indonesia and Sub-Saharan Africa?: 27.3%, with Indonesia ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Indonesia and Sub-Saharan Africa?: 12 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2020.
How do Indonesia and Sub-Saharan Africa rank globally for literacy rate, adult total?: Indonesia ranks 32nd and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 32nd of 89 countries.
Where does this data come from?: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Indonesia vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Literacy rate, adult total. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/literacy-rate-adult-total-percent-of-people-ages-15-and-above/indonesia/sub-saharan-africa/

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<a href="https://education.statizoid.com/compare/literacy-rate-adult-total-percent-of-people-ages-15-and-above/indonesia/sub-saharan-africa/">Indonesia vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Literacy rate, adult total</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator: Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above)
Unit: % of people ages 15 and above
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 128 places, 2,592 data points, 1973–2024
Last refreshed: 17 September 2026

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.