Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Literacy rates of older vs. younger population was 17.8% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Ethiopia, 1994–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Ethiopia is 17.8%, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of down 23.1% on the previous year and up 20.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Ethiopia peaked at 23.2% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 10.7%, in 1994.
That places Ethiopia 79th out of 85 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 10.7% | — |
| 2007 | 13.6% | +27.6% |
| 2013 | 14.8% | +8.4% |
| 2016 | 19.5% | +31.8% |
| 2019 | 16.9% | -13.4% |
| 2021 | 23.2% | +37.2% |
| 2022 | 17.8% | -23.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10.7% | 10.7% | 10.7% | 1 |
| 2000s | 13.6% | 13.6% | 13.6% | 1 |
| 2010s | 17.0% | 14.8% | 19.5% | 3 |
| 2020s | 20.5% | 17.8% | 23.2% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 76 Guinea 23.0% compare
- 77 Côte d'Ivoire 22.5% compare
- 78 Nepal 21.1% compare
- 80 Niger 17.4% compare
- 81 Afghanistan 16.5% compare
- 82 Burkina Faso 16.1% compare
More education data for Ethiopia
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 9.64 % change on previous year (2012)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 151,765 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 186,951 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 173,906 (2014)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 14.17 % change on previous year (2012)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 413,109 (2014)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 7.68 % change on previous year (2012)
- Theoretical duration of primary education (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of pre-primary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non) 0.0494 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Ethiopia?
- Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Ethiopia was 17.8% in 2022, 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 Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 23.2% in 2021.
- What is the lowest literacy rates of older vs. younger population recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.7% in 1994.
- How does Ethiopia rank for literacy rates of older vs. younger population?
- Ethiopia ranks 79th out of 85 countries with data for 2022.
- Is literacy rates of older vs. younger population rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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.