Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Literacy rates of older vs. younger population was 63.2% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Sao Tome and Principe, 1981–2019
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 Sao Tome and Principe is 63.2%, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is up 27.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 63.2% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 24.4%, in 1981.
That places Sao Tome and Principe 47th out of 85 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.
Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 24.4% | — |
| 1991 | 30.5% | +25.2% |
| 2001 | 40.4% | +32.5% |
| 2012 | 49.6% | +22.7% |
| 2019 | 63.2% | +27.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 24.4% | 24.4% | 24.4% | 1 |
| 1990s | 30.5% | 30.5% | 30.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 40.4% | 40.4% | 40.4% | 1 |
| 2010s | 56.4% | 49.6% | 63.2% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
More education data for Sao Tome and Principe
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 936 (2016)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 4,544 (2017)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 4,458 (2016)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4,769 (2016)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 25,875 (2017)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 37,172 (2017)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.14 % change on previous year (2017)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2017)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1796 units per person (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Sao Tome and Principe was 63.2% in 2019, 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 Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 63.2% in 2019.
- What is the lowest literacy rates of older vs. younger population recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.4% in 1981.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for literacy rates of older vs. younger population?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 47th out of 85 countries with data for 2019.
- Is literacy rates of older vs. younger population rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe 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.