home
docs

Sub-Saharan Africa Literacy rate (adult) 2026: Interactive Chart & Historical Data

Literacy rate (adult) in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 68.69% in 2024, according to UNESCO UIS. The latest value is up 0.25 percentage points from 68.44% in 2023. Ten years earlier, in 2014, the value was 63.67% (up 5.02 percentage points since). The latest value is the highest since 1985; the lowest was 49.66% in 1985.

Data source: UNESCO UIS · Unit: % · Category: Education · Explore more indicators on EconDash

Data updated:Last checked:Frequency:AnnualCoverage:1970–2025

Key facts

What is the latest Literacy rate (adult) in Sub-Saharan Africa ?

Literacy rate (adult) in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 68.69% in 2024, according to UNESCO UIS.

Is Literacy rate (adult) in Sub-Saharan Africa rising or falling?

The latest value is up 0.25 percentage points from 68.44% in 2023. Ten years earlier, in 2014, the value was 63.67% (up 5.02 percentage points since).

What is the highest Literacy rate (adult) on record in Sub-Saharan Africa ?

The latest value is the highest since 1985; the lowest was 49.66% in 1985.

Metadata for Literacy rate (adult) in Sub-Saharan Africa
IndicatorLiteracy rate (adult)
CountrySub-Saharan Africa
CategoryEducation
Unit%
SourceUNESCO UIS
Interactive chartView on EconDash
API accessEconDash API documentation

Latest value: 68.69% (2024)

Loading chart...

Source:World Bank via UNESCO UIS — series SE.ADT.LITR.ZS
License:CC BY 4.0
Cite this chart
APA

World Bank. (2026). Literacy rate (adult) — Sub-Saharan Africa [Data set]. Retrieved November 13, 2026, from EconDash: https://econdash.org/chart/literacy-rate-adult/SSF. Original source: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.ADT.LITR.ZS

MLA

World Bank. "Literacy rate (adult) — Sub-Saharan Africa ." EconDash, 2026, https://econdash.org/chart/literacy-rate-adult/SSF. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026. Original source: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.ADT.LITR.ZS.

Chicago

World Bank. 2026. "Literacy rate (adult) — Sub-Saharan Africa ." EconDash. Accessed November 13, 2026. https://econdash.org/chart/literacy-rate-adult/SSF. Original source: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.ADT.LITR.ZS.

BibTeX
@misc{econdash_literacy_rate_adult_ssf,
  author = {{World Bank}},
  title = {{Literacy rate (adult) --- Sub-Saharan Africa }},
  howpublished = {EconDash},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://econdash.org/chart/literacy-rate-adult/SSF},
  note = {Accessed: 2026-11-13. Original source: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.ADT.LITR.ZS}
}