Literacy in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Literacy was 43.58 in 2019. ▲ Rising
Latest (2019)
43.58
Change on year
down 10.7%
World rank
83rd
of 89 countries
All-time high
49.4
in 2015
All-time low
34.83
in 2004
Years of data
6
2004–2019
Literacy in Sierra Leone, 2004–2019
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Sierra Leone recorded 43.58 for literacy in 2019.
The figure is down 10.7% on the previous year and up 25.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy in Sierra Leone peaked at 49.4 in 2015 and was at its lowest, 34.83, in 2004.
Sierra Leone ranks 83rd of 89 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Literacy in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 34.83 | — |
| 2014 | 44.37 | +27.4% |
| 2015 | 49.4 | +11.3% |
| 2017 | 44.83 | -9.3% |
| 2018 | 48.81 | +8.9% |
| 2019 | 43.58 | -10.7% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 43.58 is below the median for low income countries, which is 60.46, 72% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 43.58 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70.87, 61% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 34.83 | 34.83 | 34.83 | 1 |
| 2010s | 46.2 | 43.58 | 49.4 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 80 Benin 51.38 compare
- 81 Senegal 50.36 compare
- 82 Cote d'Ivoire 50 compare
- 84 Burkina Faso 41.57 compare
- 85 Guinea 39.62 compare
- 86 Afghanistan 37.27 compare
More education data for Sierra Leone
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 97.5 (2012)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 97.37 (2023)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 38,043 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 73,295 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 85,708 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 92,723 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.16 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.07 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.52 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy in Sierra Leone?
- Literacy in Sierra Leone was 43.58 in 2019, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 49.4 in 2015.
- What is the lowest literacy recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.83 in 2004.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for literacy?
- Sierra Leone ranks 83rd out of 89 countries with data for 2019.
- Is literacy rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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 — 6 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).