Gambia, The Literacy Rate
Adult literacy rate SE.ADT.LITR.ZS
Gambia, The's literacy rate was 51.64% in 2021, ranked 39th globally. This represents a 2.9% decrease from 2020. Data from World Bank, covering 2000–2021.
Overview
Gambia, The's literacy rate stood at 51.64% in 2021, a decline of +1.52pp from 2018. Gambia, The ranked 39th globally.
Gambia’s adult literacy rate has risen steadily from 36.82 % in 2000, its all‑time trough, to 51.64 % in 2021, placing the country 39th globally. The modest peak of 53.16 % recorded in 2018 reflects the cumulative impact of government‑led primary education expansion and adult learning programmes launched in the early 2010s. Compared with regional peers, Gambia trails Nigeria’s 63.16 % and Pakistan’s 58.86 % but exceeds Benin’s 43.83 % and is roughly on par with Côte d’Ivoire’s 50.00 %. The four‑year coverage window indicates that gains have been concentrated in recent decades, suggesting that continued investment in teacher training, curriculum relevance and rural school access could sustain the upward trajectory. If these reforms are maintained and scaled, the literacy rate is likely to edge closer to the mid‑50s, narrowing the gap with higher‑performing neighbours.
Data & projection
| Year | Literacy Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 51.64% | −1.52pp | #39 |
| 2018 | 53.16% | +2.38pp | #42 |
| 2015 | 50.78% | +13.96pp | #42 |
| 2000 | 36.82% | – | #43 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Gambia, The matched the Orthodox Tightening Cycle pattern in 2023. Historically, 57% of countries showing this pattern (177 out of 311) saw literacy rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Gambia, The's literacy rate was 51.64% in 2021. Ranked 39th globally. This represents a 2.9% decrease from the previous year.
Gambia, The's literacy rate peaked at 53.16% in 2018.
The lowest literacy rate in Gambia, The was 36.82% in 2000.
Gambia, The ranks 39th globally in literacy rate as of 2021.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.ADT.LITR.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The literacy rate of Gambia, The in 2021 was 51.64%. This ranks 39th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_gambia-the_literacy-rate,
title = {Gambia, The Literacy Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/gambia-the/literacy-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}