Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, rural, both sexes in Mozambique
Mozambique: Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, rural, both sexes was 47.1% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, rural, both sexes in Mozambique, 1980–2020
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, rural, both sexes in Mozambique is 47.1%, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of down 3.7% on the previous year and up 20.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, rural, both sexes in Mozambique peaked at 48.9% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 21.6%, in 1980.
That places Mozambique 47th out of 53 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, rural, both sexes in Mozambique, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 21.6% | — |
| 1997 | 26.7% | +23.3% |
| 2009 | 39.2% | +47.0% |
| 2015 | 44.3% | +12.8% |
| 2017 | 48.9% | +10.6% |
| 2020 | 47.1% | -3.7% |
Mozambique compared with similar countries
- Mozambique's 47.1% is above the median for low income countries, which is 47.1%, 1.0× the median. (7 countries reporting)
- Mozambique's 47.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 50.2%, 94% of the median. (12 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 21.6% | 21.6% | 21.6% | 1 |
| 1990s | 26.7% | 26.7% | 26.7% | 1 |
| 2000s | 39.2% | 39.2% | 39.2% | 1 |
| 2010s | 46.6% | 44.3% | 48.9% | 2 |
| 2020s | 47.1% | 47.1% | 47.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Mozambique
More education data for Mozambique
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 33,281 (2017)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 278,480 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 24,278 (1986)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 20,822 (1986)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.07 million (2017)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 7.66 million (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 4.4 % change on previous year (2020)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.2344 units per person (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, rural, both sexes in Mozambique?
- Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, rural, both sexes in Mozambique was 47.1% in 2020, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, rural, both sexes recorded in Mozambique?
- The highest recorded value was 48.9% in 2017.
- What is the lowest adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, rural, both sexes recorded in Mozambique?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.6% in 1980.
- How does Mozambique rank for adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, rural, both sexes?
- Mozambique ranks 47th out of 53 countries with data for 2020.
- Is adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, rural, both sexes rising or falling in Mozambique?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Mozambique data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, rural, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release