Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population in Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone: Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population was 41.5% in 2019. ▲ Rising

Latest (2019)
41.5%
Change on year
down 1.0%
World rank
129th
of 136 countries
All-time high
41.9%
in 2018
All-time low
28.9%
in 2004
Years of data
5
2003–2019

Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population in Sierra Leone, 2003–2019

0102030402003201120192003: 29.6 %2004: 28.9 %2017: 39.4 %2018: 41.9 %2019: 41.5 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

Sierra Leone recorded 41.5% for educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population in 2019.

The figure is down 1.0% on the previous year and up 43.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population in Sierra Leone peaked at 41.9% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 28.9%, in 2004.

Sierra Leone ranks 129th of 136 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population in Sierra Leone, year by year

Annual values for Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population 25+ years, both sexes (%) in Sierra Leone, 2003 to 2019.
Year % Change
2003 29.6%
2004 28.9% -2.1%
2017 39.4% +36.0%
2018 41.9% +6.5%
2019 41.5% -1.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 29.3% 28.9% 29.6% 2
2010s 40.9% 39.4% 41.9% 3

Countries ranked near Sierra Leone

  1. 126 Nepal 59.2% compare
  2. 127 Pakistan 51.8% compare
  3. 128 Ethiopia 47.9% compare
  4. 130 Senegal 38.8% compare
  5. 131 Benin 37.7% compare
  6. 132 Burkina Faso 34.0% compare

See the full ranking of 137 places →

More education data for Sierra Leone

All data for Sierra Leone →

Frequently asked questions

What is educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population in Sierra Leone?
Educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population in Sierra Leone was 41.5% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population recorded in Sierra Leone?
The highest recorded value was 41.9% in 2018.
What is the lowest educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population recorded in Sierra Leone?
The lowest recorded value was 28.9% in 2004.
How does Sierra Leone rank for educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population?
Sierra Leone ranks 129th out of 136 countries with data for 2019.
Is educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
Over the last ten years it is up 43.5%. 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 Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population 25+ years, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population in Sierra Leone. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/educational-attainment-at-least-some-primary-isced-1-population-25-years-both-sexes/sierra-leone/

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About this data

Indicator
Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population 25+ years, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
137 places, 1,785 data points, 1970–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release