Completion rate, primary education, both sexes (%) (rate both sexes) in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Completion rate, primary education, both sexes (%) (rate both sexes) was 69.4% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Completion rate, primary education, both sexes in Sierra Leone, 2000–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for completion rate, primary education, both sexes in Sierra Leone is 69.4%, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.
That represents a change of up 8.2% on the previous year and up 44.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, completion rate, primary education, both sexes in Sierra Leone peaked at 69.4% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 26.0%, in 2000.
That places Sierra Leone 72nd out of 88 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Completion rate, primary education, both sexes (%) (rate both sexes) in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 26.0% | — |
| 2004 | 28.9% | +11.0% |
| 2005 | 32.7% | +13.3% |
| 2008 | 47.9% | +46.7% |
| 2010 | 59.6% | +24.3% |
| 2013 | 66.6% | +11.8% |
| 2017 | 64.2% | -3.6% |
| 2019 | 69.4% | +8.2% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 69.4% is above the median for low income countries, which is 49.7%, 1.4× the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 69.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 62.7%, 1.1× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 33.9% | 26.0% | 47.9% | 4 |
| 2010s | 65.0% | 59.6% | 69.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More education data for Sierra Leone
- 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)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.2393 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is completion rate, primary education, both sexes in Sierra Leone?
- Completion rate, primary education, both sexes in Sierra Leone was 69.4% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest completion rate, primary education, both sexes recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 69.4% in 2019.
- What is the lowest completion rate, primary education, both sexes recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.0% in 2000.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for completion rate, primary education, both sexes?
- Sierra Leone ranks 72nd out of 88 countries with data for 2019.
- Is completion rate, primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 44.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 8 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release