Literacy rate in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Literacy rate was 87.4% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Latest (2019)
87.4%
World rank
82nd
of 128 countries
All-time high
90.1%
in 2012
All-time low
17.5%
in 1950
Years of data
6
1950–2019
Literacy rate in Sao Tome and Principe, 1950–2019
Source: UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2019, literacy rate in Sao Tome and Principe stood at 87.4%.
That represents a change of down 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 90.1% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 17.5%, in 1950.
Sao Tome and Principe ranks 82nd of 128 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Literacy rate in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 17.5% | — |
| 1981 | 57.3% | +227.5% |
| 1991 | 73.2% | +27.8% |
| 2001 | 84.9% | +15.9% |
| 2012 | 90.1% | +6.2% |
| 2019 | 87.4% | -3.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 17.5% | 17.5% | 17.5% | 1 |
| 1980s | 57.3% | 57.3% | 57.3% | 1 |
| 1990s | 73.2% | 73.2% | 73.2% | 1 |
| 2000s | 84.9% | 84.9% | 84.9% | 1 |
| 2010s | 88.8% | 87.4% | 90.1% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
More education data for Sao Tome and Principe
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 18,093 (2017)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 2.65 % change on previous year (2017)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), per capita 0.0874 units per person (2017)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 19,079 (2017)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.66 % change on previous year (2017)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), per capita 0.0922 units per person (2017)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 25,875 (2017)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 11.38 % change on previous year (2017)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1,193 (2017)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 5.39 % change on previous year (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Literacy rate in Sao Tome and Principe was 87.4% in 2019, according to UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rate recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 90.1% in 2012.
- What is the lowest literacy rate recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.5% in 1950.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for literacy rate?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 82nd out of 128 countries with data for 2019.
- Is literacy rate rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Literacy rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of adults who can read and write a simple statement about their everyday life.