In 2022, the rate of adult literacy as share of the country's population 15 years and above in Kenya was ***** percent. Between 2000 and 2022, the rate of adult literacy rose by **** percentage points.

Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) in Kenya was reported at 82.88 % in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Kenya - Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

The youth literacy rate (people aged 15-24) in Kenya increased by *** percentage points (+***** percent) in 2022 in comparison to the previous year. With ***** percent, the youth literacy rate thereby reached its highest value in the observed period. The youth literacy rate refers to the share of individuals between the ages of ** and ** and who can read and write as well as understand simple expressions about their daily lives.Find more statistics on other topics about Kenya with key insights such as rate of adult literacy as share of the country's population 15 years and above.

In 2018, **** percent of the people aged 15 years and older in Kenya were able to read and write a simple statement. Among males, the adult literacy rate was higher, at ** percent, while **** percent of females were literate. Overall, during the period in study, the ability to read and write was more elevated among men.

Kenya KE: Literacy Rate: Adult Female: % of Females Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 74.006 % in 2014. This records an increase from the previous number of 66.863 % for 2007. Kenya KE: Literacy Rate: Adult Female: % of Females Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 74.006 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2014, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 77.893 % in 2000 and a record low of 66.863 % in 2007. Kenya KE: Literacy Rate: Adult Female: % of Females Aged 15 and Above data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Kenya – Table KE.World Bank.WDI: Education Statistics. Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

Literacy rate, youth male (% of males ages 15-24) in Kenya was reported at 96.15 % in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Kenya - Literacy rate, youth male (% of males ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Kenya KE: Literacy Rate: Adult Male: % of Males Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 83.778 % in 2014. This records an increase from the previous number of 78.079 % for 2007. Kenya KE: Literacy Rate: Adult Male: % of Males Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 83.778 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2014, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 87.495 % in 2000 and a record low of 78.079 % in 2007. Kenya KE: Literacy Rate: Adult Male: % of Males Aged 15 and Above data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Kenya – Table KE.World Bank.WDI: Education Statistics. Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

According to most recent data, **** percent of people aged 15-24 years in Kenya were able to read and write a simple statement in 2018. The youth literacy rate slightly variated given the gender, with a share of **** percent among women and **** percent among men. This was the first time in the period in study when the female share was above that of males.

Literacy rate, adult male (% of males ages 15 and above) in Kenya was reported at 85.58 % in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Kenya - Literacy rate, adult male (% of males ages 15 and above) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Kenya KE: Literacy Rate: Youth Male: % of Males Aged 15-24 data was reported at 86.939 % in 2014. This records an increase from the previous number of 83.205 % for 2007. Kenya KE: Literacy Rate: Youth Male: % of Males Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 86.939 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2014, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 93.310 % in 2000 and a record low of 83.205 % in 2007. Kenya KE: Literacy Rate: Youth Male: % of Males Aged 15-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Kenya – Table KE.World Bank.WDI: Education Statistics. Youth literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15-24 who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

82.9 (%) in 2022. Adult (15+) literacy rate (%). Total is the percentage of the population age 15 and above who can, with understanding, read and write a short, simple statement on their everyday life. Generally, ‘literacy’ also encompasses ‘numeracy’, the ability to make simple arithmetic calculations. This indicator is calculated by dividing the number of literates aged 15 years and over by the corresponding age group population and multiplying the result by 100.

Literacy rate, youth female (% of females ages 15-24) in Kenya was reported at 95.28 % in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Kenya - Literacy rate, youth female (% of females ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Literacy rate, youth (ages 15-24), gender parity index (GPI) in Kenya was reported at 0.99098 % in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Kenya - Ratio of young literate females to males (% ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%) in Kenya was reported at 57.42 % in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Kenya - Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Kenya KE: Literacy Rate: Youth Female: % of Females Aged 15-24 data was reported at 86.137 % in 2014. This records an increase from the previous number of 81.633 % for 2007. Kenya KE: Literacy Rate: Youth Female: % of Females Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 86.137 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2014, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 91.943 % in 2000 and a record low of 81.633 % in 2007. Kenya KE: Literacy Rate: Youth Female: % of Females Aged 15-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Kenya – Table KE.World Bank.WDI: Education Statistics. Youth literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15-24 who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

Abstract

The Kenya National Adult Literacy Survey was conducted throughout the country between June 8 to August 8, 2006 by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) and the Department of Adult Education (DAE). The purpose was to generate accurate and up-to-data on the status of adult literacy with a view of using that information to expand and strengthen literacy programmes, and also plan for general national development. Underlying this is the fact literacy is fundamental to socio-economic development and poverty alleviation. The specific objectives were:

Determine the magnitude, levels and distribution of adult literacy for persons aged 15 and above.

Obtain comprehensive data and information on adult literacy from literacy providers and stakeholders both in the private and public sectors.

Identify issues of concern, which need to be addressed in the promotion of adult literacy.

About 18,000 households were sampled for the survey and out of that, 15,696 were occupied in 4,782 in urban and 10,914 in rural areas. Out of the occupied households, 15,504 were successfully interviewed, which gave a response rate of 98.8 per cent. In addition, eight adult education centers or classes in each district were sampled and their teachers of managers interviewed to generate information on the perspective of the service providers.

The study used various instruments to collect the data. Four questionnaires were developed for the survey and targeted the following: households, individuals, institutions providing literacy, and literacy (assessment) tests. The survey was conducted in English, Kiswahili and 18 other local languages, which provided the respondents with the opportunity to respond in a language that they were quite comfortable with. Significantly, 70 per cent of the respondents took the literacy assessments tests in either English or Kiswahili. To arrive at the adult literacy levels, two methods were used: self reporting (one's ability to read and write) and actual testing (assessment of literacy skills) of the population.

Unlike previous surveys that relied on self confessions, this time round, tests were administered to examine the respondents' mastery levels in literacy and numeracy.

The competency levels in either literacy or numeracy were graded on a scale of one to five, with those who attained.

Levels Four and Five being considered as having the desirable levels of mastery of the skills, those who attained Levels.

Three, Four and Five were considered to have attained the minimum mastery level.

Geographic coverage

The sample for the KNALS covered the population residing in households across the country

Analysis unit

Population residing in households across the country

Universe

All members of the household selected aged 15 years and above were eligible for inclusion in the literacy survey. However, only one eligible member from each household was selected during the administration of individual questionnaire and test items.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

A probability sample of about 18,000 households was selected for the survey to allow for separate estimates for key indicators for each of the provinces and districts in the country and for urban and rural areas separately.

The survey utilised a two-stage sample design. The first stage involved selecting clusters from the national master sample maintained by KNBS.A total of 1,200 clusters comprising 377 urban and 823 rural were selected from this master frame.

The second stage of selection involved the systematic sampling of households from a list of all households. Fifteen households were sampled from each of the sampled clusters. The household listing was updated recently while preparing for the Kenya Integrated and Household Budget Survey (KIHBS). Selection of clusters and households for the survey was done by KNBS experts in Nairobi and the sample lists were given to survey supervisors. All members of the household selected aged 15 years and above were eligible for inclusion in the literacy survey.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

Four questionnsires are included: a household questionnaire, an individual questionnaire, an institutional questionnaire and a literacy assessment instrument.

The household questionnaire was used during the survey to list all members in the selected households. Basic information on the characteristics of each household member listed was collected using this questionnaire. Based on this basic information, all eligible members of the household were identified and one selected randomly on whom the individual questionnaire and assessment test were administered. The household questionnaire, therefore, collected information relating to the following aspects: gender, age, marital status, religion, tribe, school/centre attendance, educational attainment, disability and employment for all household members aged five years and above.

The individual questionnaire was administered to the selected household members aged 15 years and above in all the households and collected the following information: - Awareness of, participation and attendance in, adult education programmes; - Self-assessment of literacy and numeracy skills; - Purposes for reading, writing and computational skills; - Sustainability of literacy skills, reading attitudes, and work requirements; - Employment and occupation; - Language and migration status.

The institutional questionnaire, administered to sampled adult education centres, collected information on issues relating to the provision of adult education. The questions covered the following aspects: - Enrolment by gender for the past five years; - Number of instructors by gender for the past five years; - Institution’s background information; - Policies and programmes; - Assessment of learners; - Views of teachers; - Teaching staff remuneration and welfare; - Institutional infrastructure; - Special learning needs; - Language of instruction; - Monitoring and evaluation systems.

The KNALS, apart from collecting information leading to establishing literacy levels on self-assessment, also administered a literacy assessment test to all selected respondents. The literacy levels obtained, therefore, provided information about literacy such as whether the respondents could read and understand instructions or read and make use of the information provided. Unlike past literacy surveys where respondents who had attended school up to a particular level were assumed to be literate, in this survey all respondents irrespective of their attained educational levels were subjected to the same literacy test. The KNALS thus measured literacy through direct assessment of men and women aged 15 years and above which focused on three skills: reading, writing and computation (numeracy).

Cleaning operations

Data processing involved recording of all questionnaires received by cluster number, data entry and verification. Complete field edited questionnaires were sent to KNBS offices at the Nyayo House (Nairobi) for data capture and further editing. Data processing thus consisted of re-editing, recoding particularly the labour module, data entry, verification and data cleaning. After cleaning, the data was weighted to conform to the known population parameters. A team of 14 data entry clerks and two supervisors was engaged for 60 days. The following data processing programmes were used: CSPro (Census and Survey Processing System), SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) and RUMM software for analysing assessment and attitude questionnaire data based on Rasch analysis technique.

Response rate

A total of 17,892 households were sampled of which 15,695 (4,781 urban and 10,914 rural) were occupied at the time of the survey and therefore eligible for interviews. Some of the sampled households could not be accessed because they were no longer inhabited thus contributing to a large extent to the recorded shortfall. Out of a total of 15,695 households occupied at the time of the survey, 15,504 were successfully interviewed yielding a response rate of 98.8 percent. Rural households realized a 99.7 percent response rate compared to a response rate of 96.6 percent in urban areas. Members of households aged 15 years and above were eligible for the individual interviews. Of the total 15,695 respondents identified, 15,473 were successfully interviewed, giving an individual response rate of 98.6 percent. Response rates are higher in rural areas compared to the response rates in urban areas. Response rates for the literacy assessment test were lower than those for the individual interviews. Out of15, 695 eligible respondents, 14,761 took the literacy test giving a response rate of 94.0 percent (91.3 percent urban and 95.3 percent rural).

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, male (%) in Kenya was reported at 76.42 % in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Kenya - Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, male - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Abstract

The Kenya National Adult Literacy Survey was conducted throughout the country between June 8 to August 8, 2006 by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) and the Department of Adult Education (DAE). The purpose was to generate accurate and up-to-data on the status of adult literacy with a view of using that information to expand and strengthen literacy programmes, and also plan for general national development. Underlying this is the fact literacy is fundamental to socio-economic development and poverty alleviation. The specific objectives were: Determine the magnitude, levels and distribution of adult literacy for persons aged 15 and above. Obtain comprehensive data and information on adult literacy from literacy providers and stakeholders both in the private and public sectors. Identify issues of concern, which need to be addressed in the promotion of adult literacy. About 18,000 households were sampled for the survey and out of that, 15,696 were occupied in 4,782 in urban and 10,914 in rural areas. Out of the occupied households, 15,504 were successfully interviewed, which gave a response rate of 98.8 per cent. In addition, eight adult education centers or classes in each district were sampled and their teachers of managers interviewed to generate information on the perspective of the service providers. The study used various instruments to collect the data. Four questionnaires were developed for the survey and targeted the following: households, individuals, institutions providing literacy, and literacy (assessment) tests. The survey was conducted in English, Kiswahili and 18 other local languages, which provided the respondents with the opportunity to respond in a language that they were quite comfortable with. Significantly, 70 per cent of the respondents took the literacy assessments tests in either English or Kiswahili. To arrive at the adult literacy levels, two methods were used: self reporting (one's ability to read and write) and actual testing (assessment of literacy skills) of the population. Unlike previous surveys that relied on self confessions, this time round, tests were administered to examine the respondents' mastery levels in literacy and numeracy. The competency levels in either literacy or numeracy were graded on a scale of one to five, with those who attained Levels Four and Five being considered as having the desirable levels of mastery of the skills. Those who attained Levels Three, Four and Five were considered to have attained the minimum mastery level.

Geographic coverage

The sample for the KNALS covered the population residing in households across the country

Analysis unit

population residing in households across the country

Universe

All members of the household selected aged 15 years and above were eligible for inclusion in the literacy survey. However, only one eligible member from each household was selected during the administration of individual questionnaire and test items.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

A probability sample of about 18,000 households was selected for the survey to allow for separate estimates for key indicators for each of the provinces and districts in the country and for urban and rural areas separately. The survey utilised a two-stage sample design. The first stage involved selecting clusters from the national master sample maintained by KNBS.A total of 1,200 clusters comprising 377 urban and 823 rural were selected from this master frame. The second stage of selection involved the systematic sampling of households from a list of all households. Fifteen households were sampled from each of the sampled clusters. The household listing was updated recently while preparing for the Kenya Integrated and Household Budget Survey (KIHBS). Selection of clusters and households for the survey was done by KNBS experts in Nairobi and the sample lists were given to survey supervisors. All members of the household selected aged 15 years and above were eligible for inclusion in the literacy survey.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

These included: a household questionnaire, an individual questionnaire, a literacy assessment instrument and an institutional questionnaire.

Response rate

A total of 17,892 households were sampled of which 15,695 (4,781 urban and 10,914 rural) were occupied at the time of the survey and therefore eligible for interviews. Some of the sampled households could not be accessed because they were no longer inhabited thus contributing to a large extent to the recorded shortfall. Out of a total of 15,695households occupied at the time of the survey, 15,504 were successfully interviewed yielding a response rate of 98.8 per cent. Rural households realized a 99.7 per cent response rate compared to a response rate of 96.6 per cent in urban areas. Members of households aged 15 years and above were eligible for the individual interviews. Of the total 15,695 respondents identified, 15,473 were successfully interviewed, giving an individual response rate of 98.6 per cent. Response rates are higher in rural areas compared to the response rates in urban areas. Response rates for the literacy assessment test were lower than those for the individual interviews. Out of15, 695 eligible respondents, 14,761 took the literacy test giving a response rate of94.0 per cent (91.3 per cent urban and 95.3 per cent rural)

Kenya KE: Gender Parity Index (GPI): Literacy Rate: Youth Aged 15-24 data was reported at 0.991 Ratio in 2014. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.981 Ratio for 2007. Kenya KE: Gender Parity Index (GPI): Literacy Rate: Youth Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 0.985 Ratio from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2014, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.991 Ratio in 2014 and a record low of 0.981 Ratio in 2007. Kenya KE: Gender Parity Index (GPI): Literacy Rate: Youth Aged 15-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Kenya – Table KE.World Bank.WDI: Education Statistics. Gender parity index for youth literacy rate is the ratio of females to males ages 15-24 who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, female (%) in Kenya was reported at 43.7 % in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Kenya - Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.