Guinea-Bissau Literacy Rate
Adult literacy rate SE.ADT.LITR.ZS
Guinea-Bissau's literacy rate was 64.08% in 2025, ranked 54th globally. This represents a 0.2% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1979–2025.
Overview
Guinea-Bissau's literacy rate stood at 64.08% in 2025, a rise of +0.15pp from 2022. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 64.08% by 2025. Guinea-Bissau ranked 54th globally.
Guinea‑Bissau’s adult literacy rate has risen sharply from a trough of 19.96 % in 1979 to an all‑time peak of 64.08 % in 2025, placing the country 54th globally. This 44.12‑percentage‑point increase over 46 years reflects sustained expansion of primary education, although the five‑year coverage window shows that progress has slowed relative to earlier decades. The 2025 figure is only marginally below Nigeria’s 66.56 % and just under Mozambique’s 64.93 %, suggesting that Guinea‑Bissau remains close to its regional peers while still lagging behind the higher‑performing West African states. The persistence of low enrollment in rural areas and limited adult‑education programmes continue to constrain further gains. If government investment in teacher training and infrastructure accelerates, the upward trajectory could translate into literacy rates approaching 70 % within the next decade, narrowing the gap with the more advanced peers.
Data & projection
| Year | Literacy Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025* trend | 64.08% | - | - |
| 2025 | 64.08% | +0.15pp | #54 |
| 2022 | 63.93% | +9.05pp | #39 |
| 2019 | 54.88% | +13.52pp | #48 |
| 2000 | 41.36% | +21.40pp | #42 |
| 1979 | 19.96% | – | #5 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Guinea-Bissau matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2008. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw literacy rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Guinea-Bissau's literacy rate was 64.08% in 2025. Ranked 54th globally. This represents a 0.2% increase from the previous year.
Guinea-Bissau's literacy rate peaked at 64.08% in 2025.
The lowest literacy rate in Guinea-Bissau was 19.96% in 1979.
Guinea-Bissau ranks 54th globally in literacy rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.ADT.LITR.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Guinea-Bissau's literacy rate is projected to reach 64.08% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The literacy rate of Guinea-Bissau in 2025 was 64.08%. This ranks 54th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_guinea-bissau_literacy-rate,
title = {Guinea-Bissau Literacy Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/guinea-bissau/literacy-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}