Literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Gambia
Gambia: Literacy rates vs average years of schooling was 51.64 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
51.64
Change on year
down 2.9%
World rank
117th
of 128 countries
All-time high
53.16
in 2018
All-time low
7.5
in 1950
Years of data
5
1950–2021
Literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Gambia, 1950–2021
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Gambia recorded 51.64 for literacy rates vs average years of schooling in 2021.
The figure is down 2.9% on the previous year and up 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Gambia peaked at 53.16 in 2018 and was at its lowest, 7.5, in 1950.
Gambia ranks 117th of 128 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Gambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 7.5 | — |
| 2000 | 36.82 | +390.9% |
| 2015 | 50.78 | +37.9% |
| 2018 | 53.16 | +4.7% |
| 2021 | 51.64 | -2.9% |
Gambia compared with similar countries
- Gambia's 51.64 is below the median for low income countries, which is 61.06, 85% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
- Gambia's 51.64 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70.74, 73% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 1 |
| 2000s | 36.82 | 36.82 | 36.82 | 1 |
| 2010s | 51.97 | 50.78 | 53.16 | 2 |
| 2020s | 51.64 | 51.64 | 51.64 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
More education data for Gambia
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 89.78 (2025)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 83.09 (2025)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 12,452 (2021)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 16,389 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 71,238 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 77,061 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 369,783 (2021)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 442,901 (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.4 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Gambia?
- Literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Gambia was 51.64 in 2021, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rates vs average years of schooling recorded in Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 53.16 in 2018.
- What is the lowest literacy rates vs average years of schooling recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.5 in 1950.
- How does Gambia rank for literacy rates vs average years of schooling?
- Gambia ranks 117th out of 128 countries with data for 2021.
- Is literacy rates vs average years of schooling rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Gambia data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Literacy rates vs average years of schooling. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 5 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).