Literacy rates among adults in Rwanda
Rwanda: Literacy rates among adults was 78.8% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Literacy rates among adults in Rwanda, 1978–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2022, literacy rates among adults in Rwanda stood at 78.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.6% on the previous year and up 15.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rates among adults in Rwanda peaked at 80.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 38.2%, in 1978.
That places Rwanda 60th out of 89 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
Literacy rates among adults in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 38.2% | — |
| 1991 | 57.9% | +51.3% |
| 2000 | 64.9% | +12.2% |
| 2012 | 68.3% | +5.3% |
| 2014 | 70.8% | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 73.2% | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 80.0% | +9.3% |
| 2022 | 78.8% | -1.6% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 78.8% is above the median for low income countries, which is 60.5%, 1.3× the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 78.8% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70.9%, 1.1× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 38.2% | 38.2% | 38.2% | 1 |
| 1990s | 57.9% | 57.9% | 57.9% | 1 |
| 2000s | 64.9% | 64.9% | 64.9% | 1 |
| 2010s | 70.8% | 68.3% | 73.2% | 3 |
| 2020s | 79.4% | 78.8% | 80.0% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
More education data for Rwanda
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 34,324 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 795,920 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 305,636 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 299,593 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 901,617 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.01 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 5.93 % 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 0.2109 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rates among adults in Rwanda?
- Literacy rates among adults in Rwanda was 78.8% in 2022, 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 Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 80.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest literacy rates among adults recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.2% in 1978.
- How does Rwanda rank for literacy rates among adults?
- Rwanda ranks 60th out of 89 countries with data for 2022.
- Is literacy rates among adults rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Rwanda 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.