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 September of 2025.

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.

Kenya: Literacy rate: The latest value from 2022 is 82.88 percent, an increase from 78.73 percent in 2014. In comparison, the world average is 80.97 percent, based on data from 54 countries. Historically, the average for Kenya from 2000 to 2022 is 78.94 percent. The minimum value, 72.16 percent, was reached in 2007 while the maximum of 82.88 percent was recorded in 2022.

In 2022, the youth literacy rate (people aged 15-24) in Kenya was ***** percent. Between 2000 and 2022, the youth literacy rate rose by **** percentage points.

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).

Adult literacy rate of Kenya jumped by 5.27% from 78.73 % in 2014 to 82.88 % in 2022. Since the 12.00% drop in 2007, adult literacy rate surged by 14.86% in 2022. Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can, with understanding, read and write a short, simple statement on their everyday life.

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).

View yearly updates and historical trends for Kenya Adult Literacy Rate. Source: World Bank. Track economic data with YCharts analytics.

Historical dataset showing Kenya literacy rate by year from 2000 to 2022.

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 October 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).

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 October of 2025.

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.

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 October of 2025.

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 October of 2025.

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.

In 2022, the youth literacy rate (people aged 15-24) in Kenya was ***** percent. Between 2000 and 2022, the youth literacy rate rose by **** percentage points.

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.

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).