Literacy in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Literacy was 60.46 in 2022. ▲ Rising
Latest (2022)
60.46
Change on year
up 10.2%
World rank
78th
of 89 countries
All-time high
60.46
in 2022
All-time low
27.01
in 1994
Years of data
8
1994–2022
Literacy in Ethiopia, 1994–2022
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2022, literacy in Ethiopia stood at 60.46. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.
That represents a change of up 10.2% on the previous year and up 25.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy in Ethiopia peaked at 60.46 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 27.01, in 1994.
That places Ethiopia 78th out of 89 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Literacy in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 27.01 | — |
| 2004 | 35.9 | +32.9% |
| 2007 | 39 | +8.6% |
| 2013 | 48.35 | +24.0% |
| 2016 | 47.49 | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 55.05 | +15.9% |
| 2021 | 54.89 | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 60.46 | +10.2% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 60.46 is above the median for low income countries, which is 60.46, 1.0× the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 60.46 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70.87, 85% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 27.01 | 27.01 | 27.01 | 1 |
| 2000s | 37.45 | 35.9 | 39 | 2 |
| 2010s | 50.3 | 47.49 | 55.05 | 3 |
| 2020s | 57.67 | 54.89 | 60.46 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More education data for Ethiopia
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 74.92 (2024)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 77.54 (2024)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 272,545 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 900,151 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.32 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.16 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 5.03 million (2015)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 15.93 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.45 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy in Ethiopia?
- Literacy in Ethiopia was 60.46 in 2022, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 60.46 in 2022.
- What is the lowest literacy recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.01 in 1994.
- How does Ethiopia rank for literacy?
- Ethiopia ranks 78th out of 89 countries with data for 2022.
- Is literacy rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Literacy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 8 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).