Ghana Youth Literacy Rate
Literacy rate among youth ages 15-24 SE.ADT.1524.LT.ZS
Ghana's youth literacy rate was 91.51% in 2021, ranked 36th globally. This represents a 4.2% increase from 2020. Data from World Bank, covering 2000–2021.
Overview
Ghana's youth literacy rate stood at 91.51% in 2021, a rise of +3.73pp from 2017. Ghana ranked 36th globally.
Ghana’s youth literacy rate has risen sharply from 70.66 % in 2000 to an all‑time peak of 91.51 % in 2021, placing the country 36th worldwide according to the World Bank. This 20.85‑percentage‑point increase over two decades reflects sustained investment in primary education, expanded access to free basic schooling, and targeted literacy programmes for out‑of‑school adolescents. The upward trajectory mirrors similar gains in peer nations such as Cambodia, which recorded a youth literacy rate of 91.83 % in the same year, suggesting that concerted policy reforms can quickly elevate human capital in low‑income contexts. Nonetheless, Ghana’s progress remains modest compared with the highest performers, indicating room for further improvement in secondary transition and quality of instruction. Continued expansion of teacher training, digital learning resources, and community‑based outreach is likely to preserve the positive momentum, while economic shocks or funding shortfalls could stall or reverse the gains achieved so far.
Data & projection
| Year | Youth Literacy Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 91.51% | +3.73pp | #36 |
| 2017 | 87.78% | +7.20pp | #40 |
| 2015 | 80.58% | −7.02pp | #40 |
| 2014 | 87.60% | +1.88pp | #38 |
| 2010 | 85.72% | +6.01pp | #40 |
| 2003 | 79.71% | +9.05pp | #17 |
| 2000 | 70.66% | – | #45 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Ghana matched the Currency Crisis Pattern pattern in 2023. Historically, 27% of countries showing this pattern (35 out of 128) saw youth literacy rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Ghana's youth literacy rate was 91.51% in 2021. Ranked 36th globally. This represents a 4.2% increase from the previous year.
Ghana's youth literacy rate peaked at 91.51% in 2021.
The lowest youth literacy rate in Ghana was 70.66% in 2000.
Ghana ranks 36th globally in youth literacy rate as of 2021.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.ADT.1524.LT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The youth literacy rate of Ghana in 2021 was 91.51%. This ranks 36th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_ghana_youth-literacy-rate,
title = {Ghana Youth Literacy Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/ghana/youth-literacy-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}