Central African Republic Literacy Rate
Adult literacy rate SE.ADT.LITR.ZS
Central African Republic's literacy rate was 42.44% in 2019, ranked 52nd globally. This represents a 16.2% decrease from 2018. Data from World Bank, covering 1975–2019.
Overview
Central African Republic's literacy rate stood at 42.44% in 2019, a decline of +8.21pp from 2000. Central African Republic ranked 52nd globally.
The Central African Republic’s adult literacy rate rose from a post‑colonial low of 18.24 % in 1975 to a peak of 50.65 % in 2000, reflecting expanded primary schooling and modest adult‑education programmes during the late 1990s. By 2019 the rate had settled at 42.44 %, placing the country 52nd globally and just below Sierra Leone’s 43.58 % and Senegal’s 46.83 % among its regional peers. The upward trajectory after the 1975 trough was interrupted by political instability and budgetary constraints in the early 2000s, which slowed progress and produced the modest decline from the 2000 high. Nonetheless, the persistence of government‑led literacy campaigns and increasing donor support have kept the indicator above the 1975 baseline. Continued investment in teacher training, curriculum relevance, and rural school access will be pivotal for the Central African Republic to close the gap with neighboring countries and sustain further improvements in literacy.
Data & projection
| Year | Literacy Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 42.44% | −8.21pp | #52 |
| 2000 | 50.65% | +17.03pp | #40 |
| 1988 | 33.62% | +15.38pp | #3 |
| 1975 | 18.24% | – | #5 |
Analysis
Central African Republic's literacy rate was 42.44% in 2019, a decline of −8.21pp from 2018.
Frequently Asked Questions
Central African Republic's literacy rate was 42.44% in 2019. Ranked 52nd globally. This represents a 16.2% decrease from the previous year.
Central African Republic's literacy rate peaked at 50.65% in 2000.
The lowest literacy rate in Central African Republic was 18.24% in 1975.
Central African Republic ranks 52nd globally in literacy rate as of 2019.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.ADT.LITR.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The literacy rate of Central African Republic in 2019 was 42.44%. This ranks 52nd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_central-african-republic_literacy-rate,
title = {Central African Republic Literacy Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/central-african-republic/literacy-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}