Literacy rate, adult male in Mali
Mali: Literacy rate, adult male was 45.2% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, adult male in Mali, 1976–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of males ages 15 and above.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rate, adult male in Mali is 45.2%, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 0.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, adult male in Mali peaked at 46.2% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 13.5%, in 1976.
Mali ranks 87th of 88 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Literacy rate, adult male in Mali, year by year
| Year | % of males ages 15 and above | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 13.5% | — |
| 1998 | 26.7% | +97.9% |
| 2003 | 32.7% | +22.3% |
| 2006 | 34.9% | +6.6% |
| 2010 | 43.4% | +24.5% |
| 2011 | 43.5% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 45.1% | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 46.2% | +2.5% |
| 2024 | 45.2% | -2.2% |
Mali compared with similar countries
- Mali's 45.2% is below the median for low income countries, which is 71.0%, 64% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Mali's 45.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 79.2%, 57% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 13.5% | 13.5% | 13.5% | 1 |
| 1990s | 26.7% | 26.7% | 26.7% | 1 |
| 2000s | 33.8% | 32.7% | 34.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 44.5% | 43.4% | 46.2% | 4 |
| 2020s | 45.2% | 45.2% | 45.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Mali
- 84 Afghanistan 52.1% compare
- 85 Burkina Faso 48.7% compare
- 86 Niger 47.9% compare
- 88 Chad 44.5% compare
More education data for Mali
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 80,395 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 512,692 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 82,198 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 83,509 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.31 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.97 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -2.42 % change on previous year (2018)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1251 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate, adult male in Mali?
- Literacy rate, adult male in Mali was 45.2% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest literacy rate, adult male recorded in Mali?
- The highest recorded value was 46.2% in 2018.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, adult male recorded in Mali?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.5% in 1976.
- How does Mali rank for literacy rate, adult male?
- Mali ranks 87th out of 88 countries with data for 2024.
- Is literacy rate, adult male rising or falling in Mali?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Mali data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Literacy rate, adult male (% of males ages 15 and above). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.