Population having attained at least basic education in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Population having attained at least basic education was 64.9 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
64.9
World rank
102nd
of 111 countries
All-time high
64.9
in 2020
All-time low
0.3
in 1870
Years of data
31
1870–2020
Population having attained at least basic education in Sierra Leone, 1870–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Sierra Leone recorded 64.9 for population having attained at least basic education in 2020. That is the highest value across all 31 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 43.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population having attained at least basic education in Sierra Leone peaked at 64.9 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.3, in 1870.
That places Sierra Leone 102nd out of 111 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population having attained at least basic education in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.3 | — |
| 1875 | 0.4 | +33.3% |
| 1880 | 0.5 | +25.0% |
| 1885 | 0.6 | +20.0% |
| 1890 | 0.8 | +33.3% |
| 1895 | 1 | +25.0% |
| 1900 | 1.3 | +30.0% |
| 1905 | 1.7 | +30.8% |
| 1910 | 2.3 | +35.3% |
| 1915 | 2.7 | +17.4% |
| 1920 | 3 | +11.1% |
| 1925 | 2.8 | -6.7% |
| 1930 | 3.1 | +10.7% |
| 1935 | 3.4 | +9.7% |
| 1940 | 3.9 | +14.7% |
| 1945 | 4.4 | +12.8% |
| 1950 | 4.9 | +11.4% |
| 1955 | 5.4 | +10.2% |
| 1960 | 5.9 | +9.3% |
| 1965 | 7.6 | +28.8% |
| 1970 | 10.1 | +32.9% |
| 1975 | 13.3 | +31.7% |
| 1980 | 16.8 | +26.3% |
| 1985 | 20.7 | +23.2% |
| 1990 | 25.2 | +21.7% |
| 1995 | 30.7 | +21.8% |
| 2000 | 33.8 | +10.1% |
| 2005 | 36.5 | +8.0% |
| 2010 | 45.1 | +23.6% |
| 2015 | 54.9 | +21.7% |
| 2020 | 64.9 | +18.2% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 64.9 is above the median for low income countries, which is 64, 1.0× the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 64.9 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 78, 83% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0.35 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 2 |
| 1880s | 0.55 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 2 |
| 1890s | 0.9 | 0.8 | 1 | 2 |
| 1900s | 1.5 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 2 |
| 1910s | 2.5 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 2 |
| 1920s | 2.9 | 2.8 | 3 | 2 |
| 1930s | 3.25 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 2 |
| 1940s | 4.15 | 3.9 | 4.4 | 2 |
| 1950s | 5.15 | 4.9 | 5.4 | 2 |
| 1960s | 6.75 | 5.9 | 7.6 | 2 |
| 1970s | 11.7 | 10.1 | 13.3 | 2 |
| 1980s | 18.75 | 16.8 | 20.7 | 2 |
| 1990s | 27.95 | 25.2 | 30.7 | 2 |
| 2000s | 35.15 | 33.8 | 36.5 | 2 |
| 2010s | 50 | 45.1 | 54.9 | 2 |
| 2020s | 64.9 | 64.9 | 64.9 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
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 population having attained at least basic education in Sierra Leone?
- Population having attained at least basic education in Sierra Leone was 64.9 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population having attained at least basic education recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 64.9 in 2020.
- What is the lowest population having attained at least basic education recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3 in 1870.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for population having attained at least basic education?
- Sierra Leone ranks 102nd out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is population having attained at least basic education rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 43.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Population having attained at least basic education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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