Literacy rate, youth female in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Literacy rate, youth female was 67.9% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, youth female in Sierra Leone, 2004–2019
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of females ages 15-24.
Analysis
Sierra Leone recorded 67.9% for literacy rate, youth female in 2019.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.5% on the previous year and up 64.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, youth female in Sierra Leone peaked at 73.4% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 37.1%, in 2005.
That places Sierra Leone 92nd out of 105 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Literacy rate, youth female in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % of females ages 15-24 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 37.4% | — |
| 2005 | 37.1% | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 41.3% | +11.2% |
| 2010 | 49.5% | +19.8% |
| 2013 | 57.3% | +15.9% |
| 2015 | 63.2% | +10.3% |
| 2017 | 68.7% | +8.6% |
| 2018 | 73.4% | +6.9% |
| 2019 | 67.9% | -7.5% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 67.9% is above the median for low income countries, which is 67.9%, 1.0× the median. (17 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 67.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 80.1%, 85% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 38.6% | 37.1% | 41.3% | 3 |
| 2010s | 63.3% | 49.5% | 73.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 89 Zambia 76.0% compare
- 90 Democratic Republic of Congo 68.3% compare
- 91 Benin 67.9% compare
- 93 Burkina Faso 67.1% compare
- 94 Mauritania 67.0% compare
- 95 Pakistan 66.5% compare
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, youth female in Sierra Leone?
- Literacy rate, youth female in Sierra Leone was 67.9% in 2019, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest literacy rate, youth female recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 73.4% in 2018.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, youth female recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.1% in 2005.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for literacy rate, youth female?
- Sierra Leone ranks 92nd out of 105 countries with data for 2019.
- Is literacy rate, youth female rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 64.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Literacy rate, youth female (% of females ages 15-24). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Youth literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15-24 who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.