Literacy rates among adults in Chad
Chad: Literacy rates among adults was 30.6% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Literacy rates among adults in Chad, 1993–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rates among adults in Chad is 30.6%, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 37.3% on the previous year and up 7.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rates among adults in Chad peaked at 30.6% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 10.9%, in 1993.
Chad ranks 89th of 89 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Literacy rates among adults in Chad, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 10.9% | — |
| 2000 | 25.6% | +135.5% |
| 2004 | 28.4% | +10.6% |
| 2016 | 22.3% | -21.4% |
| 2019 | 30.6% | +37.3% |
Chad compared with similar countries
- Chad's 30.6% is below the median for low income countries, which is 60.5%, 51% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Chad's 30.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70.9%, 43% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10.9% | 10.9% | 10.9% | 1 |
| 2000s | 27.0% | 25.6% | 28.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 26.5% | 22.3% | 30.6% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Chad
More education data for Chad
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 23,874 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 383,767 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 19,968 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 18,239 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 764,990 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.05 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 3.18 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1502 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rates among adults in Chad?
- Literacy rates among adults in Chad was 30.6% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rates among adults recorded in Chad?
- The highest recorded value was 30.6% in 2019.
- What is the lowest literacy rates among adults recorded in Chad?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.9% in 1993.
- How does Chad rank for literacy rates among adults?
- Chad ranks 89th out of 89 countries with data for 2019.
- Is literacy rates among adults rising or falling in Chad?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Chad 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 among adults. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population aged 15 years and older who can read and write.