Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso: Literacy rates of older vs. younger population was 16.1% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Burkina Faso, 1975–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Burkina Faso stood at 16.1%. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.
The figure is up 51.7% on the previous year and up 91.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Burkina Faso peaked at 16.1% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 2.2%, in 1996.
That places Burkina Faso 82nd out of 85 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Burkina Faso, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 3.3% | — |
| 1991 | 2.9% | -11.0% |
| 1996 | 2.2% | -23.4% |
| 2003 | 4.8% | +116.6% |
| 2005 | 5.1% | +6.0% |
| 2006 | 3.0% | -41.8% |
| 2007 | 6.9% | +131.5% |
| 2014 | 8.4% | +21.6% |
| 2018 | 14.5% | +73.2% |
| 2019 | 6.8% | -53.2% |
| 2021 | 6.1% | -10.3% |
| 2022 | 10.6% | +73.6% |
| 2023 | 16.1% | +51.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.3% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 1 |
| 1990s | 2.6% | 2.2% | 2.9% | 2 |
| 2000s | 5.0% | 3.0% | 6.9% | 4 |
| 2010s | 9.9% | 6.8% | 14.5% | 3 |
| 2020s | 10.9% | 6.1% | 16.1% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Burkina Faso
More education data for Burkina Faso
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 68,557 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 105,439 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 78,072 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 75,598 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.19 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.07 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 8.2 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1303 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Burkina Faso?
- Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Burkina Faso was 16.1% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rates of older vs. younger population recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The highest recorded value was 16.1% in 2023.
- What is the lowest literacy rates of older vs. younger population recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.2% in 1996.
- How does Burkina Faso rank for literacy rates of older vs. younger population?
- Burkina Faso ranks 82nd out of 85 countries with data for 2023.
- Is literacy rates of older vs. younger population rising or falling in Burkina Faso?
- Over the last ten years it is up 91.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Burkina Faso 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 rates of older vs. younger population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population aged 65 years and older who can read and write.