Cross country literacy rates in Senegal
Senegal: Cross country literacy rates was 50.36 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Cross country literacy rates in Senegal, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for cross country literacy rates in Senegal is 50.36, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 15.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cross country literacy rates in Senegal peaked at 51.9 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 3, in 1950.
That places Senegal 119th out of 128 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Cross country literacy rates in Senegal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3 | — |
| 1988 | 26.87 | +795.7% |
| 2002 | 39.28 | +46.2% |
| 2006 | 41.89 | +6.6% |
| 2009 | 48.04 | +14.7% |
| 2011 | 51.81 | +7.8% |
| 2013 | 43.53 | -16.0% |
| 2015 | 43.59 | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 46.1 | +5.8% |
| 2017 | 51.9 | +12.6% |
| 2018 | 46.61 | -10.2% |
| 2019 | 46.83 | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 50.36 | +7.5% |
Senegal compared with similar countries
- Senegal's 50.36 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 78.16, 64% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Senegal's 50.36 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70.87, 71% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cross country literacy rates in Senegal changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | +795.7% | 3 | 26.87 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 1980s | 26.87 | 26.87 | 26.87 | 1 |
| 2000s | 43.07 | 39.28 | 48.04 | 3 |
| 2010s | 47.2 | 43.53 | 51.9 | 7 |
| 2020s | 50.36 | 50.36 | 50.36 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Senegal
- 116 Pakistan 58.86 compare
- 117 Gambia 51.64 compare
- 118 Benin 51.38 compare
- 120 Cote d'Ivoire 50 compare
- 121 Sierra Leone 43.58 compare
- 122 Central African Republic 42.44 compare
More education data for Senegal
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 84.65 (2024)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 75.47 (2024)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 55,703 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 64,252 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 162,919 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 181,550 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.28 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.35 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.4401 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cross country literacy rates in Senegal?
- Cross country literacy rates in Senegal was 50.36 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest cross country literacy rates recorded in Senegal?
- The highest recorded value was 51.9 in 2017.
- What is the lowest cross country literacy rates recorded in Senegal?
- The lowest recorded value was 3 in 1950.
- How does Senegal rank for cross country literacy rates?
- Senegal ranks 119th out of 128 countries with data for 2023.
- Is cross country literacy rates rising or falling in Senegal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Senegal data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Cross country literacy rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 13 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).