Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Benin
Benin: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 43.7% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Benin, 1979–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Benin is 43.7%, measured in 2022.
The figure is up 21.0% on the previous year and down 3.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Benin peaked at 45.3% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 12.2%, in 1979.
That places Benin 80th out of 87 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Benin, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 12.2% | — |
| 1992 | 23.4% | +91.1% |
| 2002 | 31.8% | +36.0% |
| 2011 | 45.3% | +42.5% |
| 2013 | 37.8% | -16.7% |
| 2017 | 32.5% | -14.0% |
| 2019 | 40.8% | +25.5% |
| 2021 | 36.1% | -11.5% |
| 2022 | 43.7% | +21.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 12.2% | 12.2% | 12.2% | 1 |
| 1990s | 23.4% | 23.4% | 23.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 31.8% | 31.8% | 31.8% | 1 |
| 2010s | 39.1% | 32.5% | 45.3% | 4 |
| 2020s | 39.9% | 36.1% | 43.7% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Benin
More education data for Benin
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.40 million (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 5.18 % change on previous year (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1743 units per person (2022)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.40 million (2022)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 5.18 % change on previous year (2022)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita 0.1743 units per person (2022)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.14 million (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Benin?
- Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Benin was 43.7% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Benin?
- The highest recorded value was 45.3% in 2011.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.2% in 1979.
- How does Benin rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
- Benin ranks 80th out of 87 countries with data for 2022.
- Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Benin data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release