Literacy rates among adults in Tanzania
Tanzania: Literacy rates among adults was 78.2% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Literacy rates among adults in Tanzania, 1988–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rates among adults in Tanzania is 78.2%, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.9% on the previous year and up 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rates among adults in Tanzania peaked at 82.2% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 59.1%, in 1988.
That places Tanzania 61st out of 89 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
Literacy rates among adults in Tanzania, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 59.1% | — |
| 2002 | 69.4% | +17.5% |
| 2012 | 78.1% | +12.5% |
| 2014 | 79.9% | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 77.9% | -2.5% |
| 2020 | 82.2% | +5.6% |
| 2022 | 78.2% | -4.9% |
Tanzania compared with similar countries
- Tanzania's 78.2% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 78.2%, 1.0× the median. (31 countries reporting)
- Tanzania's 78.2% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 59.1% | 59.1% | 59.1% | 1 |
| 2000s | 69.4% | 69.4% | 69.4% | 1 |
| 2010s | 78.6% | 77.9% | 79.9% | 3 |
| 2020s | 80.2% | 78.2% | 82.2% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Tanzania
More education data for Tanzania
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 106,006 (2020)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 331,605 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 851,911 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 824,648 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.83 million (2021)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 11.39 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.3307 % 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 0.1661 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rates among adults in Tanzania?
- Literacy rates among adults in Tanzania was 78.2% 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 Tanzania?
- The highest recorded value was 82.2% in 2020.
- What is the lowest literacy rates among adults recorded in Tanzania?
- The lowest recorded value was 59.1% in 1988.
- How does Tanzania rank for literacy rates among adults?
- Tanzania ranks 61st out of 89 countries with data for 2022.
- Is literacy rates among adults rising or falling in Tanzania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Tanzania 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.