Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female was 55.0% in 2019. ▬ Flat
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female in Burkina Faso, 1991–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female in Burkina Faso is 55.0%, measured in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
The figure is down 6.8% on the previous year and down 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female in Burkina Faso peaked at 59.0% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 55.0%, in 1991.
Burkina Faso ranks 43rd of 59 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female in Burkina Faso, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 55.0% | — |
| 1996 | 55.0% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 56.0% | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 56.0% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 56.0% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 57.0% | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 58.0% | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 59.0% | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 55.0% | -6.8% |
Burkina Faso compared with similar countries
- Burkina Faso's 55.0% is below the median for low income countries, which is 62.0%, 89% of the median. (5 countries reporting)
- Burkina Faso's 55.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 63.0%, 87% of the median. (10 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 55.0% | 55.0% | 55.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 56.2% | 56.0% | 57.0% | 4 |
| 2010s | 57.3% | 55.0% | 59.0% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Burkina Faso
- 42 Timor-Leste 56.0% compare
- 43 Panama 55.0% compare
- 45 Paraguay 54.0% compare
- 45 South Africa 54.0% 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, % female in Burkina Faso?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female in Burkina Faso was 55.0% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The highest recorded value was 59.0% in 2018.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The lowest recorded value was 55.0% in 1991.
- How does Burkina Faso rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female?
- Burkina Faso ranks 43rd out of 59 countries with data for 2019.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female rising or falling in Burkina Faso?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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, % female. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release