Sierra Leone: Literacy rate
* indicates monthly or quarterly data series
| Sierra Leone |
Literacy rate |
|---|---|
| Latest value | 43.58 |
| Year | 2019 |
| Measure | percent |
| Data availability | 2004 - 2019 |
| Average | 44.30 |
| Min - Max | 34.83 - 49.40 |
| Source | UNESCO |
| Available for | Data download |
The latest value from 2019 is 43.58 percent, a decline from 48.81 percent in 2018. In comparison, the world average is 83.34 percent, based on data from 54 countries. Historically, the average for Sierra Leone from 2004 to 2019 is 44.3 percent. The minimum value, 34.83 percent, was reached in 2004 while the maximum of 49.4 percent was recorded in 2015.
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* indicates monthly or quarterly data series
| Recent values | Sierra Leone: Literacy rate |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 43.58 |
| 2018 | 48.81 |
| 2017 | 44.83 |
| 2015 | 49.40 |
| 2014 | 44.37 |
| 2004 | 34.83 |
Definition: 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.
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| Related indicators | Latest | Reference | Measure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education spending, percent of GDP | 2.62 | 2023 | percent |
| Education spending, percent of government spending | 20.55 | 2025 | percent |
| Literacy rate | 43.58 | 2019 | percent |
| Female literacy rate, ages 15-24 | 67.86 | 2019 | percent |
| Male literacy rate, ages 15-24 | 78.20 | 2019 | percent |
| Youth literacy rate, ages 15-24 | 72.99 | 2019 | percent |
| Primary school completion rate | 99.20 | 2024 | percent |
| School starting age, primary school | 6 | 2025 | years |
| Female to male ratio, primary school pupils | 1.04 | 2021 | percent |
| Female to male ratio, secondary school students | 0.97 | 2017 | percent |
| Female to male ratio, students at tertiary level education | 0.40 | 2002 | percent |
| Primary school enrollment | 162.12 | 2024 | percent |
| Secondary school enrollment | 86.91 | 2023 | percent |
| Tertiary school enrollment | 1.99 | 2002 | percent |
| Trained teachers in primary education | 69.84 | 2024 | percent |