Literacy rate, adult total in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Literacy rate, adult total was 87.4% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, adult total in Sao Tome and Principe, 1981–2019
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of people ages 15 and above.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rate, adult total in Sao Tome and Principe is 87.4%, measured in 2019.
The figure is down 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, adult total in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 90.1% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 57.3%, in 1981.
That places Sao Tome and Principe 54th out of 89 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.
Literacy rate, adult total in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | % of people ages 15 and above | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 57.3% | — |
| 1991 | 73.2% | +27.8% |
| 2001 | 84.9% | +15.9% |
| 2012 | 90.1% | +6.2% |
| 2019 | 87.4% | -3.0% |
Sao Tome and Principe compared with similar countries
- Sao Tome and Principe's 87.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 78.2%, 1.1× the median. (31 countries reporting)
- Sao Tome and Principe's 87.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70.9%, 1.2× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 57.3% | 57.3% | 57.3% | 1 |
| 1990s | 73.2% | 73.2% | 73.2% | 1 |
| 2000s | 84.9% | 84.9% | 84.9% | 1 |
| 2010s | 88.8% | 87.4% | 90.1% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
More education data for Sao Tome and Principe
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 936 (2016)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 4,544 (2017)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 4,458 (2016)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4,769 (2016)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 25,875 (2017)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 37,172 (2017)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.14 % change on previous year (2017)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2017)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1796 units per person (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate, adult total in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Literacy rate, adult total in Sao Tome and Principe was 87.4% in 2019, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest literacy rate, adult total recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 90.1% in 2012.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, adult total recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 57.3% in 1981.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for literacy rate, adult total?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 54th out of 89 countries with data for 2019.
- Is literacy rate, adult total rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Literacy rate, adult total (% of people 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.