Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Literacy rates of older vs. younger population was 5.8% in 2019. ▼ Falling
Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Sierra Leone, 2004–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Sierra Leone recorded 5.8% for literacy rates of older vs. younger population in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
That represents a change of down 57.3% on the previous year and down 57.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Sierra Leone peaked at 22.6% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 5.8%, in 2019.
Sierra Leone ranks 85th of 85 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 13.8% | — |
| 2014 | 15.1% | +9.5% |
| 2015 | 22.6% | +49.8% |
| 2017 | 6.1% | -73.2% |
| 2018 | 13.6% | +125.2% |
| 2019 | 5.8% | -57.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 13.8% | 13.8% | 13.8% | 1 |
| 2010s | 12.6% | 5.8% | 22.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More education data for Sierra Leone
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 553,045 (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 18.85 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 178,431 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 4 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 9,041 (2002)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 1.44 % change on previous year (2002)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 15,753 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 30,822 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 2,602 (2002)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 2.2 % change on previous year (2002)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Sierra Leone?
- Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Sierra Leone was 5.8% 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 22.6% in 2015.
- What is the lowest literacy rates of older vs. younger population recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.8% in 2019.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for literacy rates of older vs. younger population?
- Sierra Leone ranks 85th out of 85 countries with data for 2019.
- Is literacy rates of older vs. younger population rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 57.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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.