Survival rate to Grade 5 of primary education, both sexes in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Survival rate to Grade 5 of primary education, both sexes was 49.1% in 2019. ▼ Falling
Survival rate to Grade 5 of primary education, both sexes in Sierra Leone, 1977–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2019, survival rate to grade 5 of primary education, both sexes in Sierra Leone stood at 49.1%.
That represents a change of up 75.8% on the previous year and down 17.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, survival rate to grade 5 of primary education, both sexes in Sierra Leone peaked at 60.0% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 27.9%, in 2017.
That places Sierra Leone 159th out of 165 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Survival rate to Grade 5 of primary education, both sexes in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 56.3% | — |
| 2012 | 59.7% | +5.9% |
| 2015 | 60.0% | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 59.0% | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 27.9% | -52.7% |
| 2019 | 49.1% | +75.8% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 49.1% is below the median for low income countries, which is 61.1%, 80% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 49.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 74.6%, 66% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 56.3% | 56.3% | 56.3% | 1 |
| 2010s | 51.1% | 27.9% | 60.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More education data for Sierra Leone
- 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)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.2393 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is survival rate to grade 5 of primary education, both sexes in Sierra Leone?
- Survival rate to grade 5 of primary education, both sexes in Sierra Leone was 49.1% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest survival rate to grade 5 of primary education, both sexes recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 60.0% in 2015.
- What is the lowest survival rate to grade 5 of primary education, both sexes recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.9% in 2017.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for survival rate to grade 5 of primary education, both sexes?
- Sierra Leone ranks 159th out of 165 countries with data for 2019.
- Is survival rate to grade 5 of primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Survival rate to Grade 5 of primary education, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release