Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, female in Mozambique

Mozambique: Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, female was 72.8% in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
72.8%
Change on year
down 1.9%
World rank
49th
of 59 countries
All-time high
74.2%
in 2017
All-time low
39.4%
in 1980
Years of data
6
1980–2020

Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, female in Mozambique, 1980–2020

0204060801980200020201980: 39.4 %1997: 53.5 %2009: 63.7 %2015: 69.4 %2017: 74.2 %2020: 72.8 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, female in Mozambique is 72.8%, measured in 2020.

The figure is down 1.9% on the previous year and up 14.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, female in Mozambique peaked at 74.2% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 39.4%, in 1980.

That places Mozambique 49th out of 59 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, female in Mozambique, year by year

Annual values for Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, female (%) in Mozambique, 1980 to 2020.
Year % Change
1980 39.4%
1997 53.5% +35.7%
2009 63.7% +19.2%
2015 69.4% +8.9%
2017 74.2% +6.9%
2020 72.8% -1.9%

Mozambique compared with similar countries

  • Mozambique's 72.8% is above the median for low income countries, which is 65.2%, 1.1× the median. (8 countries reporting)
  • Mozambique's 72.8% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 72.8%, 1.0× the median. (13 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 39.4% 39.4% 39.4% 1
1990s 53.5% 53.5% 53.5% 1
2000s 63.7% 63.7% 63.7% 1
2010s 71.8% 69.4% 74.2% 2
2020s 72.8% 72.8% 72.8% 1

Countries ranked near Mozambique

  1. 46 Bangladesh 76.5% compare
  2. 47 Cambodia 74.8% compare
  3. 48 Ethiopia 74.0% compare
  4. 50 Morocco 65.8% compare
  5. 51 Pakistan 65.6% compare
  6. 52 Nepal 63.8% compare

See the full ranking of 59 places →

More education data for Mozambique

All data for Mozambique →

Frequently asked questions

What is adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, female in Mozambique?
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, female in Mozambique was 72.8% in 2020, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, female recorded in Mozambique?
The highest recorded value was 74.2% in 2017.
What is the lowest adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, female recorded in Mozambique?
The lowest recorded value was 39.4% in 1980.
How does Mozambique rank for adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, female?
Mozambique ranks 49th out of 59 countries with data for 2020.
Is adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, female rising or falling in Mozambique?
Over the last ten years it is up 14.2%. 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, urban, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, female in Mozambique. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/adult-literacy-rate-population-15-years-urban-female-percent-2/mozambique/

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About this data

Indicator
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, female (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
59 places, 562 data points, 1976–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release