Literacy rates among adults in Cote d'Ivoire
Cote d'Ivoire: Literacy rates among adults was 50.0% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Literacy rates among adults in Cote d'Ivoire, 1988–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Cote d'Ivoire recorded 50.0% for literacy rates among adults in 2021.
That represents a change of down 12.2% on the previous year and up 13.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rates among adults in Cote d'Ivoire peaked at 57.0% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 34.1%, in 1988.
Cote d'Ivoire ranks 82nd of 89 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Literacy rates among adults in Cote d'Ivoire, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 34.1% | — |
| 1998 | 36.4% | +6.5% |
| 2000 | 48.7% | +34.1% |
| 2014 | 43.9% | -9.9% |
| 2016 | 50.0% | +14.0% |
| 2019 | 57.0% | +13.8% |
| 2021 | 50.0% | -12.2% |
Cote d'Ivoire compared with similar countries
- Cote d'Ivoire's 50.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 78.2%, 64% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
- Cote d'Ivoire's 50.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70.9%, 71% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 34.1% | 34.1% | 34.1% | 1 |
| 1990s | 36.4% | 36.4% | 36.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 48.7% | 48.7% | 48.7% | 1 |
| 2010s | 50.3% | 43.9% | 57.0% | 3 |
| 2020s | 50.0% | 50.0% | 50.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Cote d'Ivoire
More education data for Cote d'Ivoire
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 103,215 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 668,732 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 138,867 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 149,137 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.28 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.82 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 3.99 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1509 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rates among adults in Cote d'Ivoire?
- Literacy rates among adults in Cote d'Ivoire was 50.0% in 2021, 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 Cote d'Ivoire?
- The highest recorded value was 57.0% in 2019.
- What is the lowest literacy rates among adults recorded in Cote d'Ivoire?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.1% in 1988.
- How does Cote d'Ivoire rank for literacy rates among adults?
- Cote d'Ivoire ranks 82nd out of 89 countries with data for 2021.
- Is literacy rates among adults rising or falling in Cote d'Ivoire?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Cote d'Ivoire 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.