Literacy rates among adults in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Literacy rates among adults was 68.5% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Literacy rates among adults in Democratic Republic of Congo, 2001–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Democratic Republic of Congo recorded 68.5% for literacy rates among adults in 2023.
That represents a change of up 4.3% on the previous year and down 8.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rates among adults in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 77.0% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 65.7%, in 2020.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 75th of 89 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Literacy rates among adults in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 67.2% | — |
| 2012 | 75.0% | +11.7% |
| 2016 | 77.0% | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 73.5% | -4.5% |
| 2020 | 65.7% | -10.7% |
| 2023 | 68.5% | +4.3% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 68.5% is above the median for low income countries, which is 60.5%, 1.1× the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 68.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70.9%, 97% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 67.2% | 67.2% | 67.2% | 1 |
| 2010s | 75.2% | 73.5% | 77.0% | 3 |
| 2020s | 67.1% | 65.7% | 68.5% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More education data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 621,578 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 1.99 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 410,532 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 427,300 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 7.93 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 21.15 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 7.35 % change on previous year (2021)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1999 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rates among adults in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Literacy rates among adults in Democratic Republic of Congo was 68.5% in 2023, 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 Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 77.0% in 2016.
- What is the lowest literacy rates among adults recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 65.7% in 2020.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for literacy rates among adults?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 75th out of 89 countries with data for 2023.
- Is literacy rates among adults rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo 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.