Literacy rate vs. GDP per capita in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Literacy rate vs. GDP per capita was 87.4% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate vs. GDP per capita in Sao Tome and Principe, 1981–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2019, literacy rate vs. gdp per capita in Sao Tome and Principe stood at 87.4%.
That represents a change of down 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate vs. gdp per capita in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 90.1% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 57.3%, in 1981.
Sao Tome and Principe ranks 54th of 89 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Literacy rate vs. GDP per capita in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 57.3% | — |
| 1991 | 73.2% | +27.8% |
| 2001 | 84.9% | +15.9% |
| 2012 | 90.1% | +6.2% |
| 2019 | 87.4% | -3.0% |
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
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 12,126 (2017)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 10.54 % change on previous year (2017)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 9,227 (2016)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 7.17 % change on previous year (2016)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 2,336 (2015)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 655 (2017)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 538 (2017)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1,178 (2015)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 1,158 (2015)
- Theoretical duration of primary education (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate vs. gdp per capita in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Literacy rate vs. gdp per capita in Sao Tome and Principe was 87.4% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rate vs. gdp per capita recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 90.1% in 2012.
- What is the lowest literacy rate vs. gdp per capita 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 vs. gdp per capita?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 54th out of 89 countries with data for 2019.
- Is literacy rate vs. gdp per capita 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 UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Literacy rate vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population aged 15 years and older who can read and write.