Literacy rate, adult male in Rwanda
Rwanda: Literacy rate, adult male was 81.0% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, adult male in Rwanda, 1978–2022
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of males ages 15 and above.
Analysis
Rwanda recorded 81.0% for literacy rate, adult male in 2022.
That represents a change of down 2.3% on the previous year and up 11.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, adult male in Rwanda peaked at 82.9% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 50.8%, in 1978.
Rwanda ranks 67th of 88 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Literacy rate, adult male in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | % of males ages 15 and above | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 50.8% | — |
| 2000 | 71.4% | +40.5% |
| 2012 | 72.5% | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 76.2% | +5.1% |
| 2018 | 77.6% | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 82.9% | +6.9% |
| 2022 | 81.0% | -2.3% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 81.0% is above the median for low income countries, which is 71.0%, 1.1× the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 81.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 79.2%, 1.0× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 50.8% | 50.8% | 50.8% | 1 |
| 2000s | 71.4% | 71.4% | 71.4% | 1 |
| 2010s | 75.4% | 72.5% | 77.6% | 3 |
| 2020s | 82.0% | 81.0% | 82.9% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
More education data for Rwanda
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 34,324 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 795,920 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 305,636 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 299,593 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 901,617 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.01 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 5.93 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.2109 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate, adult male in Rwanda?
- Literacy rate, adult male in Rwanda was 81.0% in 2022, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest literacy rate, adult male recorded in Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 82.9% in 2020.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, adult male recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.8% in 1978.
- How does Rwanda rank for literacy rate, adult male?
- Rwanda ranks 67th out of 88 countries with data for 2022.
- Is literacy rate, adult male rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Rwanda 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.