Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa
UNICEF: West and Central Africa: Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes was 64.5% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa, 1985–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa is 64.5%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 40 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 11.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa peaked at 64.5% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 44.0%, in 1985.
UNICEF: West and Central Africa ranks 186th of 203 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 40 years of available data.
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 44.0% | — |
| 1986 | 44.2% | +0.5% |
| 1987 | 44.9% | +1.5% |
| 1988 | 45.4% | +1.3% |
| 1989 | 46.1% | +1.5% |
| 1990 | 46.8% | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 47.5% | +1.5% |
| 1992 | 48.2% | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 48.9% | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 49.6% | +1.6% |
| 1995 | 49.9% | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 50.6% | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 51.4% | +1.6% |
| 1998 | 52.6% | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 53.4% | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 50.4% | -5.5% |
| 2001 | 51.5% | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 52.1% | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 52.6% | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 53.8% | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 53.9% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 53.6% | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 51.9% | -3.1% |
| 2008 | 52.4% | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 52.5% | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 53.0% | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 55.9% | +5.4% |
| 2012 | 56.4% | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 57.3% | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 58.0% | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 58.8% | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 59.2% | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 60.2% | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 63.2% | +5.0% |
| 2019 | 63.1% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 63.3% | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 63.6% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 64.0% | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 64.2% | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 64.5% | +0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 44.9% | 44.0% | 46.1% | 5 |
| 1990s | 49.9% | 46.8% | 53.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 52.5% | 50.4% | 53.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 58.5% | 53.0% | 63.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 63.9% | 63.3% | 64.5% | 5 |
More education data for UNICEF: West and Central Africa
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 4.92 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 20.41 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.9224 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 22.91 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.5411 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 8.34 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 0.9535 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 5.20 million (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.46 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 5.73 % change on previous year (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa was 64.5% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 64.5% in 2024.
- What is the lowest adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 44.0% in 1985.
- How does UNICEF: West and Central Africa rank for adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes?
- UNICEF: West and Central Africa ranks 186th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this UNICEF: West and Central Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release