Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Benin
Benin: Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes was 64.2% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Benin, 1979–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2022, adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Benin stood at 64.2%. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 13.2% on the previous year and up 9.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Benin peaked at 64.2% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 31.1%, in 1979.
Benin ranks 55th of 57 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Benin, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 31.1% | — |
| 2002 | 53.6% | +72.5% |
| 2013 | 58.8% | +9.8% |
| 2017 | 50.8% | -13.6% |
| 2019 | 60.5% | +19.0% |
| 2021 | 56.7% | -6.2% |
| 2022 | 64.2% | +13.2% |
Benin compared with similar countries
- Benin's 64.2% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 84.3%, 76% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
- Benin's 64.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 81.1%, 79% of the median. (12 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 31.1% | 31.1% | 31.1% | 1 |
| 2000s | 53.6% | 53.6% | 53.6% | 1 |
| 2010s | 56.7% | 50.8% | 60.5% | 3 |
| 2020s | 60.5% | 56.7% | 64.2% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Benin
More education data for Benin
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 57,296 (2022)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 209,295 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 85,495 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 84,746 (2022)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 929,099 (2022)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.40 million (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 5.18 % change on previous year (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1743 units per person (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Benin?
- Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Benin was 64.2% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes recorded in Benin?
- The highest recorded value was 64.2% in 2022.
- What is the lowest adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.1% in 1979.
- How does Benin rank for adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes?
- Benin ranks 55th out of 57 countries with data for 2022.
- Is adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Benin data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release