Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes was 5.8% in 2019. ▼ Falling
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Sierra Leone, 2004–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Sierra Leone is 5.8%, measured in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 57.3% on the previous year and down 57.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Sierra Leone peaked at 22.6% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 5.8%, in 2019.
Sierra Leone ranks 85th of 85 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 13.8% | — |
| 2014 | 15.1% | +9.5% |
| 2015 | 22.6% | +49.8% |
| 2017 | 6.1% | -73.2% |
| 2018 | 13.6% | +125.2% |
| 2019 | 5.8% | -57.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 13.8% | 13.8% | 13.8% | 1 |
| 2010s | 12.6% | 5.8% | 22.6% | 5 |
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 elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Sierra Leone?
- Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Sierra Leone was 5.8% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 22.6% in 2015.
- What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.8% in 2019.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes?
- Sierra Leone ranks 85th out of 85 countries with data for 2019.
- Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 57.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release