Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 6.39 million number in 2018. ▲ Rising
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Burkina Faso, 1975–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2018, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Burkina Faso stood at 6.39 million number. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.
That represents a change of up 17.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Burkina Faso peaked at 6.39 million number in 2018 and was at its lowest, 3.13 million number, in 1975.
That places Burkina Faso 14th out of 87 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Burkina Faso, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 3.13 million number | — |
| 1991 | 4.12 million number | +31.5% |
| 1996 | 4.77 million number | +15.8% |
| 2003 | 5.26 million number | +10.4% |
| 2005 | 5.48 million number | +4.1% |
| 2006 | 5.71 million number | +4.3% |
| 2007 | 5.45 million number | -4.6% |
| 2014 | 6.19 million number | +13.6% |
| 2018 | 6.39 million number | +3.2% |
Burkina Faso compared with similar countries
- Burkina Faso's 6.39 million number is above the median for low income countries, which is 5.32 million number, 1.2× the median. (11 countries reporting)
- Burkina Faso's 6.39 million number is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.81 million number, 1.7× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.13 million number | 3.13 million number | 3.13 million number | 1 |
| 1990s | 4.44 million number | 4.12 million number | 4.77 million number | 2 |
| 2000s | 5.48 million number | 5.26 million number | 5.71 million number | 4 |
| 2010s | 6.29 million number | 6.19 million number | 6.39 million number | 2 |
Countries ranked near Burkina Faso
- 11 Côte d'Ivoire 7.69 million number compare
- 12 Morocco 6.88 million number compare
- 13 Mali 6.42 million number compare
- 15 Nepal 6.28 million number compare
- 16 Tanzania, United Republic of 6.24 million number compare
- 17 Mozambique 6.18 million number compare
More education data for Burkina Faso
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 68,557 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 105,439 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 78,072 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 75,598 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.19 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.07 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 8.2 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1303 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Burkina Faso?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Burkina Faso was 6.39 million number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The highest recorded value was 6.39 million number in 2018.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.13 million number in 1975.
- How does Burkina Faso rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- Burkina Faso ranks 14th out of 87 countries with data for 2018.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Burkina Faso?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Burkina Faso data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total number of adults over age 15 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life.