Completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) (%) in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) (%) was 68.8% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) in Sierra Leone, 1981–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) in Sierra Leone stood at 68.8%. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 15.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) in Sierra Leone peaked at 68.8% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 17.0%, in 1992.
Sierra Leone ranks 142nd of 165 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) (%) in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 20.9% | — |
| 1982 | 20.8% | -0.5% |
| 1983 | 20.6% | -0.8% |
| 1984 | 20.4% | -1.3% |
| 1985 | 20.0% | -1.6% |
| 1986 | 19.6% | -2.2% |
| 1987 | 19.0% | -2.8% |
| 1988 | 18.5% | -3.0% |
| 1989 | 17.9% | -2.9% |
| 1990 | 17.5% | -2.5% |
| 1991 | 17.2% | -1.8% |
| 1992 | 17.0% | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 17.0% | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 17.2% | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 17.6% | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 18.4% | +4.0% |
| 1997 | 19.4% | +5.5% |
| 1998 | 20.6% | +6.5% |
| 1999 | 22.1% | +7.1% |
| 2000 | 23.7% | +7.5% |
| 2001 | 25.6% | +8.0% |
| 2002 | 27.9% | +8.7% |
| 2003 | 30.4% | +9.1% |
| 2004 | 33.3% | +9.5% |
| 2005 | 36.5% | +9.5% |
| 2006 | 39.8% | +9.0% |
| 2007 | 43.1% | +8.4% |
| 2008 | 46.3% | +7.3% |
| 2009 | 49.2% | +6.3% |
| 2010 | 51.7% | +5.1% |
| 2011 | 53.8% | +4.1% |
| 2012 | 55.6% | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 57.1% | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 58.5% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 59.8% | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 61.1% | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 62.3% | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 63.4% | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 64.3% | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 65.0% | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 65.7% | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 66.5% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 67.2% | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 68.0% | +1.1% |
| 2025 | 68.8% | +1.2% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 68.8% is above the median for low income countries, which is 57.7%, 1.2× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 68.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 72.2%, 95% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 19.7% | 17.9% | 20.9% | 9 |
| 1990s | 18.4% | 17.0% | 22.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 35.6% | 23.7% | 49.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 58.8% | 51.7% | 64.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 66.9% | 65.0% | 68.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More education data for Sierra Leone
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 97.5 (2012)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 97.37 (2023)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 38,043 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 73,295 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 85,708 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 92,723 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.16 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.07 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.52 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) in Sierra Leone?
- Completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) in Sierra Leone was 68.8% in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 68.8% in 2025.
- What is the lowest completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.0% in 1992.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data)?
- Sierra Leone ranks 142nd out of 165 countries with data for 2025.
- Is completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release