Literacy in Senegal
Senegal: Literacy was 50.36 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
50.36
World rank
81st
of 89 countries
All-time high
51.9
in 2017
All-time low
26.87
in 1988
Years of data
12
1988–2023
Literacy in Senegal, 1988–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Senegal recorded 50.36 for literacy in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 15.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy in Senegal peaked at 51.9 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 26.87, in 1988.
That places Senegal 81st out of 89 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.
Literacy in Senegal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 26.87 | — |
| 2002 | 39.28 | +46.2% |
| 2006 | 41.89 | +6.6% |
| 2009 | 48.04 | +14.7% |
| 2011 | 51.81 | +7.8% |
| 2013 | 43.53 | -16.0% |
| 2015 | 43.59 | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 46.1 | +5.8% |
| 2017 | 51.9 | +12.6% |
| 2018 | 46.61 | -10.2% |
| 2019 | 46.83 | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 50.36 | +7.5% |
Senegal compared with similar countries
- Senegal's 50.36 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 78.16, 64% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
- Senegal's 50.36 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70.87, 71% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 26.87 | 26.87 | 26.87 | 1 |
| 2000s | 43.07 | 39.28 | 48.04 | 3 |
| 2010s | 47.2 | 43.53 | 51.9 | 7 |
| 2020s | 50.36 | 50.36 | 50.36 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Senegal
- 78 Ethiopia 60.46 compare
- 79 Pakistan 58.86 compare
- 80 Benin 51.38 compare
- 82 Cote d'Ivoire 50 compare
- 83 Sierra Leone 43.58 compare
- 84 Burkina Faso 41.57 compare
More education data for Senegal
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 84.65 (2024)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 75.47 (2024)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 55,703 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 64,252 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 162,919 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 181,550 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.28 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.35 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.4401 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy in Senegal?
- Literacy in Senegal was 50.36 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy recorded in Senegal?
- The highest recorded value was 51.9 in 2017.
- What is the lowest literacy recorded in Senegal?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.87 in 1988.
- How does Senegal rank for literacy?
- Senegal ranks 81st out of 89 countries with data for 2023.
- Is literacy rising or falling in Senegal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Senegal 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 — 12 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).