Literacy rate, youth total in Cameroon

Cameroon: Literacy rate, youth total was 81.9% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
81.9%
World rank
78th
of 95 countries
All-time high
83.1%
in 2007
All-time low
68.8%
in 1976
Years of data
7
1976–2018

Literacy rate, youth total in Cameroon, 1976–2018

0204060801976199720181976: 68.8 % of people ages 15-242000: 83.1 % of people ages 15-242004: 75.1 % of people ages 15-242007: 83.1 % of people ages 15-242010: 80.6 % of people ages 15-242011: 80.7 % of people ages 15-242018: 81.9 % of people ages 15-24

Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of people ages 15-24.

Analysis

The most recent figure for literacy rate, youth total in Cameroon is 81.9%, measured in 2018.

The figure is down 1.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, youth total in Cameroon peaked at 83.1% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 68.8%, in 1976.

That places Cameroon 78th out of 95 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Literacy rate, youth total in Cameroon, year by year

Annual values for Literacy rate, youth total (% of people ages 15-24) in Cameroon, 1976 to 2018.
Year % of people ages 15-24 Change
1976 68.8%
2000 83.1% +20.7%
2004 75.1% -9.6%
2007 83.1% +10.7%
2010 80.6% -3.1%
2011 80.7% +0.1%
2018 81.9% +1.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 68.8% 68.8% 68.8% 1
2000s 80.5% 75.1% 83.1% 3
2010s 81.0% 80.6% 81.9% 3

Countries ranked near Cameroon

  1. 75 Timor-Leste 86.1% compare
  2. 76 Uganda 85.2% compare
  3. 77 Ethiopia 84.7% compare
  4. 79 Nigeria 81.4% compare
  5. 80 Malawi 80.7% compare
  6. 81 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 77.9% compare

See the full ranking of 135 places →

More education data for Cameroon

All data for Cameroon →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, youth total in Cameroon?
Literacy rate, youth total in Cameroon was 81.9% in 2018, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest literacy rate, youth total recorded in Cameroon?
The highest recorded value was 83.1% in 2007.
What is the lowest literacy rate, youth total recorded in Cameroon?
The lowest recorded value was 68.8% in 1976.
How does Cameroon rank for literacy rate, youth total?
Cameroon ranks 78th out of 95 countries with data for 2018.
Is literacy rate, youth total rising or falling in Cameroon?
Over the last ten years it is down 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Cameroon data come from?
The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Literacy rate, youth total (% of people ages 15-24). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Literacy rate, youth total in Cameroon. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/literacy-rate-youth-total-percent-of-people-ages-15-24/cameroon/

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About this data

Indicator
Literacy rate, youth total (% of people ages 15-24)
Unit
% of people ages 15-24
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
135 places, 2,762 data points, 1974–2024
Last refreshed

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.