Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 33.7% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Sierra Leone, 2004–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Sierra Leone is 33.7%, measured in 2019.
That represents a change of down 11.9% on the previous year and up 11.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Sierra Leone peaked at 40.3% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 30.2%, in 2004.
Sierra Leone ranks 82nd of 87 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 30.2% | — |
| 2015 | 40.3% | +33.7% |
| 2017 | 34.2% | -15.1% |
| 2018 | 38.3% | +11.9% |
| 2019 | 33.7% | -11.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 30.2% | 30.2% | 30.2% | 1 |
| 2010s | 36.6% | 33.7% | 40.3% | 4 |
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 literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Sierra Leone?
- Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Sierra Leone was 33.7% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 40.3% in 2015.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.2% in 2004.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
- Sierra Leone ranks 82nd out of 87 countries with data for 2019.
- Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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