Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes was 16.1% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Burkina Faso, 1975–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
Burkina Faso recorded 16.1% for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in 2023. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.
The figure is up 51.7% on the previous year and up 91.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Burkina Faso peaked at 16.1% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 2.2%, in 1996.
That places Burkina Faso 82nd out of 85 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Burkina Faso, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 3.3% | — |
| 1991 | 2.9% | -11.0% |
| 1996 | 2.2% | -23.4% |
| 2003 | 4.8% | +116.6% |
| 2005 | 5.1% | +6.0% |
| 2006 | 3.0% | -41.8% |
| 2007 | 6.9% | +131.5% |
| 2014 | 8.4% | +21.6% |
| 2018 | 14.5% | +73.2% |
| 2019 | 6.8% | -53.2% |
| 2021 | 6.1% | -10.3% |
| 2022 | 10.6% | +73.6% |
| 2023 | 16.1% | +51.7% |
Burkina Faso compared with similar countries
- Burkina Faso's 16.1% is below the median for low income countries, which is 17.8%, 90% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Burkina Faso's 16.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 36.6%, 44% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.3% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 1 |
| 1990s | 2.6% | 2.2% | 2.9% | 2 |
| 2000s | 5.0% | 3.0% | 6.9% | 4 |
| 2010s | 9.9% | 6.8% | 14.5% | 3 |
| 2020s | 10.9% | 6.1% | 16.1% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Burkina Faso
More education data for Burkina Faso
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 68,557 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 105,439 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 78,072 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 75,598 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.19 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.07 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 8.2 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1303 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Burkina Faso?
- Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Burkina Faso was 16.1% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The highest recorded value was 16.1% in 2023.
- What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.2% in 1996.
- How does Burkina Faso rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes?
- Burkina Faso ranks 82nd out of 85 countries with data for 2023.
- Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Burkina Faso?
- Over the last ten years it is up 91.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Burkina Faso data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release