Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female (%) (rate female) in Mali
Mali: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female (%) (rate female) was 21.5% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
21.5%
World rank
83rd
of 88 countries
All-time high
21.5%
in 2024
All-time low
2.2%
in 1976
Years of data
8
1976–2024
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female in Mali, 1976–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female in Mali stood at 21.5%. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.
The figure is up 40.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female in Mali peaked at 21.5% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2.2%, in 1976.
That places Mali 83rd out of 88 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female (%) (rate female) in Mali, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 2.2% | — |
| 1998 | 10.0% | +351.1% |
| 2006 | 12.4% | +24.4% |
| 2010 | 14.5% | +17.2% |
| 2011 | 13.7% | -5.7% |
| 2015 | 15.3% | +11.6% |
| 2018 | 17.9% | +17.0% |
| 2024 | 21.5% | +20.4% |
Mali compared with similar countries
- Mali's 21.5% is below the median for low income countries, which is 37.2%, 58% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Mali's 21.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 57.8%, 37% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 1 |
| 1990s | 10.0% | 10.0% | 10.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 12.4% | 12.4% | 12.4% | 1 |
| 2010s | 15.4% | 13.7% | 17.9% | 4 |
| 2020s | 21.5% | 21.5% | 21.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Mali
More education data for Mali
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 80,395 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 512,692 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 82,198 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 83,509 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.31 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.97 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -2.42 % change on previous year (2018)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1251 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female in Mali?
- Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female in Mali was 21.5% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female recorded in Mali?
- The highest recorded value was 21.5% in 2024.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female recorded in Mali?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.2% in 1976.
- How does Mali rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female?
- Mali ranks 83rd out of 88 countries with data for 2024.
- Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female rising or falling in Mali?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Mali 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