Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female was 47.7% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female in Democratic Republic of Congo, 2001–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female in Democratic Republic of Congo stood at 47.7%. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.5% on the previous year and down 19.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 62.7% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 47.7%, in 2023.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 74th of 88 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 51.3% | — |
| 2012 | 59.1% | +15.1% |
| 2016 | 62.7% | +6.2% |
| 2018 | 55.4% | -11.7% |
| 2020 | 51.1% | -7.8% |
| 2023 | 47.7% | -6.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 51.3% | 51.3% | 51.3% | 1 |
| 2010s | 59.1% | 55.4% | 62.7% | 3 |
| 2020s | 49.4% | 47.7% | 51.1% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More education data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Theoretical duration of upper secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 561,172 (2023)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), annual growth 0.0495 % change on previous year (2022)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), gaps filled 2,021 tertiary education (2022)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of secondary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 45.9% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 12 years (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female in Democratic Republic of Congo was 47.7% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 62.7% in 2016.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.7% in 2023.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 74th out of 88 countries with data for 2023.
- Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release