Literacy rate, youth total in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Literacy rate, youth total was 73.0% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, youth total in Sierra Leone, 2004–2019
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of people ages 15-24.
Analysis
In 2019, literacy rate, youth total in Sierra Leone stood at 73.0%.
That represents a change of down 5.4% on the previous year and up 24.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, youth total in Sierra Leone peaked at 77.1% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 47.9%, in 2004.
That places Sierra Leone 84th out of 95 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Literacy rate, youth total in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % of people ages 15-24 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 47.9% | — |
| 2008 | 58.4% | +21.9% |
| 2013 | 69.8% | +19.5% |
| 2015 | 67.9% | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 73.6% | +8.4% |
| 2018 | 77.1% | +4.8% |
| 2019 | 73.0% | -5.4% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 73.0% is above the median for low income countries, which is 72.2%, 1.0× the median. (14 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 73.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 81.9%, 89% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 53.2% | 47.9% | 58.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 72.3% | 67.9% | 77.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
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 total in Sierra Leone?
- Literacy rate, youth total in Sierra Leone was 73.0% in 2019, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest literacy rate, youth total recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 77.1% in 2018.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, youth total recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.9% in 2004.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for literacy rate, youth total?
- Sierra Leone ranks 84th out of 95 countries with data for 2019.
- Is literacy rate, youth total rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.9%. 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 total (% of people 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.