Literacy rate, adult female in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Literacy rate, adult female was 33.9% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, adult female in Sierra Leone, 2004–2019
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of females ages 15 and above.
Analysis
Sierra Leone recorded 33.9% for literacy rate, adult female in 2019.
The figure is down 16.4% on the previous year and up 40.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, adult female in Sierra Leone peaked at 40.6% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 24.2%, in 2004.
Sierra Leone ranks 84th of 89 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Literacy rate, adult female in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % of females ages 15 and above | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 24.2% | — |
| 2014 | 34.8% | +44.2% |
| 2015 | 40.4% | +16.1% |
| 2017 | 36.2% | -10.3% |
| 2018 | 40.6% | +12.0% |
| 2019 | 33.9% | -16.4% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 33.9% is below the median for low income countries, which is 50.0%, 68% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 33.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 63.2%, 54% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 24.2% | 24.2% | 24.2% | 1 |
| 2010s | 37.2% | 33.9% | 40.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 81 Senegal 41.5% compare
- 82 Cote d'Ivoire 40.3% compare
- 83 Burkina Faso 35.7% compare
- 85 Mali 27.7% compare
- 86 Guinea 27.7% compare
- 87 Afghanistan 26.6% compare
More gender data for Sierra Leone
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 3,446 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 0.722 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 6,249 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 6,249 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 2.45 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 122,158 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 124,999 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 118,334 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 120,652 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 116,120 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate, adult female in Sierra Leone?
- Literacy rate, adult female in Sierra Leone was 33.9% in 2019, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest literacy rate, adult female recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 40.6% in 2018.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, adult female recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.2% in 2004.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for literacy rate, adult female?
- Sierra Leone ranks 84th out of 89 countries with data for 2019.
- Is literacy rate, adult female rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Literacy rate, adult female (% of females ages 15 and above). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
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.