In 2023, 67.97 percent of people aged 15 years and above in Africa were able to read and write a simple statement and understand it. Regionally, Southern Africa presented the highest literacy rate, at around 80 percent. North and East Africa had similar shares of literate people, at over 71 percent. In contrast, 67.5 percent and 54 percent of the adult population in Central and West Africa could read and write.

Between 2018 and 2022, Seychelles was the country with the highest adult literacy rate in Africa, at around ** percent. São Tomé and Príncipe and Namibia followed with a literacy rate of approximately ** percent and ** percent, respectively. The average rate on the continent stood at roughly ** percent. Moreover, Southern Africa had the highest literacy levels among African regions.

In 2023, the rate of adult literacy as share of the country's population 15 years and above in Sub-Saharan Africa remained nearly unchanged at around 68.2 percent. Still, the rate of adult literacy reached its highest value in the observed period in 2023. The adult literacy rate refers to the share of individuals aged 15 years and older who can read and write as well as understand simple expressions about their daily lives.

The average for 2021 based on 13 countries was 78.72 percent. The highest value was in Mauritius: 99.3 percent and the lowest value was in Guinea: 60.33 percent. The indicator is available from 1970 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Graph and download economic data for Literacy Rate, Adult Total for Developing Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SEADTLITRZSSSA) from 1985 to 2023 about Sub-Saharan Africa, literacy, adult, and rate.

The average for 2021 based on 13 countries was 81.92 percent. The highest value was in Mauritius: 99.04 percent and the lowest value was in Burkina Faso: 66.65 percent. The indicator is available from 1970 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

South Africa ZA: Literacy Rate: Adult: % of People Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 94.368 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 94.140 % for 2014. South Africa ZA: Literacy Rate: Adult: % of People Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 92.895 % from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2015, with 9 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 94.368 % in 2015 and a record low of 76.200 % in 1980. South Africa ZA: Literacy Rate: Adult: % of People Aged 15 and Above data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.World Bank: 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).

South Africa literacy rate for 2021 was 90.00%, a 5% decline from 2019.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>South Africa literacy rate for 2019 was <strong>95.00%</strong>, a <strong>8% increase</strong> from 2017.</li>
<li>South Africa literacy rate for 2017 was <strong>87.00%</strong>, a <strong>4.74% decline</strong> from 2016.</li>
<li>South Africa literacy rate for 2016 was <strong>91.74%</strong>, a <strong>2.26% decline</strong> from 2015.</li>
</ul>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.

This dataset provides values for LITERACY RATE ADULT TOTAL PERCENT OF PEOPLE AGES 15 AND ABOVE WB DATA.HTML reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

Central African Republic literacy rate for 2020 was 37.49%, a 4.95% decline from 2019.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>Central African Republic literacy rate for 2019 was <strong>42.44%</strong>, a <strong>5.44% increase</strong> from 2018.</li>
<li>Central African Republic literacy rate for 2018 was <strong>37.00%</strong>, a <strong>0.25% increase</strong> from 2010.</li>
<li>Central African Republic literacy rate for 2010 was <strong>36.75%</strong>, a <strong>14.25% decline</strong> from 2000.</li>
</ul>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.

In 2021, 78.6 percent of the people aged 15 to 24 years in Africa were able to read and write a simple statement with understanding. Regionally, North Africa presented the highest youth literacy rate, at nearly 90 percent. Southern Africa followed closely, with 88 percent of young people literate. In contrast, 68 percent of the youth population in West Africa could read and write.

Sub-Saharan Africa literacy rate for 2023 was 68.20%, a 0.26% increase from 2022.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>Sub-Saharan Africa literacy rate for 2022 was <strong>67.94%</strong>, a <strong>0.32% increase</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>Sub-Saharan Africa literacy rate for 2021 was <strong>67.62%</strong>, a <strong>0.01% decline</strong> from 2020.</li>
<li>Sub-Saharan Africa literacy rate for 2020 was <strong>67.62%</strong>, a <strong>0.18% increase</strong> from 2019.</li>
</ul>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.

South Africa ZA: Literacy Rate: Youth Female: % of Females Aged 15-24 data was reported at 99.229 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 99.084 % for 2014. South Africa ZA: Literacy Rate: Youth Female: % of Females Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 98.901 % from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2015, with 9 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 99.271 % in 2012 and a record low of 84.973 % in 1980. South Africa ZA: 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 South Africa – Table ZA.World Bank: 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).

In 2020, 65.9 percent of people aged 15 years and above in Sub-Saharan Africa were able to read and write a simple statement. The adult literacy rate varied, however, according to gender. While 72.5 percent of males were literate, the share among females was measured at 59.4 percent. Overall, the literate population has been slowly growing in the region, with the prevalence of a wide gender gap.

South Africa ZA: Literacy Rate: Youth Male: % of Males Aged 15-24 data was reported at 98.685 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 98.682 % for 2014. South Africa ZA: Literacy Rate: Youth Male: % of Males Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 98.389 % from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2015, with 9 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 98.685 % in 2015 and a record low of 85.346 % in 1980. South Africa ZA: 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 South Africa – Table ZA.World Bank: 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).

Historical chart and dataset showing Africa literacy rate by year from N/A to N/A.

Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) in Central African Republic was reported at 37.49 % in 2020, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Central African Republic - Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

South Africa ZA: Literacy Rate: Adult Male: % of Males Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 95.397 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 95.287 % for 2014. South Africa ZA: Literacy Rate: Adult Male: % of Males Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 94.144 % from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2015, with 9 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 95.397 % in 2015 and a record low of 77.526 % in 1980. South Africa ZA: 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 South Africa – Table ZA.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).

Graph and download economic data for Literacy Rate, Adult Total: All Income Levels for Middle East and North Africa (SEADTLITRZSMEA) from 1974 to 2023 about North Africa, Middle East, literacy, adult, income, and rate.

South Africa ZA: Gender Parity Index (GPI): Literacy Rate: Youth Aged 15-24 data was reported at 1.006 Ratio in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.004 Ratio for 2014. South Africa ZA: Gender Parity Index (GPI): Literacy Rate: Youth Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 1.007 Ratio from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2015, with 9 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.011 Ratio in 2007 and a record low of 0.996 Ratio in 1980. South Africa ZA: 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 South Africa – Table ZA.World Bank: 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).