Guinea-Bissau Youth Literacy Rate
Literacy rate among youth ages 15-24 SE.ADT.1524.LT.ZS
Guinea-Bissau's youth literacy rate was 83.74% in 2025, ranked 59th globally. This represents a 1.8% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1979–2025.
Overview
Guinea-Bissau's youth literacy rate stood at 83.74% in 2025, a rise of +1.51pp from 2022. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 83.74% by 2025. Guinea-Bissau ranked 59th globally.
Guinea‑Bissau’s youth literacy rate has risen sharply from 36.40 % in 1979 to 83.74 % in 2025, marking both the all‑time trough and the all‑time peak within a 46‑year span. This 47.34‑percentage‑point increase reflects sustained expansion of primary education, greater enrollment of adolescents, and intensified literacy campaigns supported by international donors. The 2025 figure places the country at 59th globally, just below Zambia’s 85.64 % and marginally above Nigeria’s 80.01 % and close to Timor‑Leste’s 87.22 %, indicating that Guinea‑Bissau has joined a cohort of lower‑middle‑income states that have largely closed the youth literacy gap since the 1990s. The rapid progress coincides with the adoption of the 2000 Education for All strategy and subsequent reforms that improved teacher training and school infrastructure. Maintaining this upward trajectory will depend on continued fiscal commitment, the expansion of secondary schooling, and the mitigation of socioeconomic barriers that still limit full participation among rural youths.
Data & projection
| Year | Youth Literacy Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025* trend | 83.74% | - | - |
| 2025 | 83.74% | +1.51pp | #59 |
| 2022 | 82.23% | +6.91pp | #51 |
| 2019 | 75.32% | +15.83pp | #53 |
| 2000 | 59.49% | +23.09pp | #51 |
| 1979 | 36.40% | – | #4 |
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 youth literacy rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Guinea-Bissau's youth literacy rate was 83.74% in 2025. Ranked 59th globally. This represents a 1.8% increase from the previous year.
Guinea-Bissau's youth literacy rate peaked at 83.74% in 2025.
The lowest youth literacy rate in Guinea-Bissau was 36.40% in 1979.
Guinea-Bissau ranks 59th globally in youth literacy rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.ADT.1524.LT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Guinea-Bissau's youth literacy rate is projected to reach 83.74% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The youth literacy rate of Guinea-Bissau in 2025 was 83.74%. This ranks 59th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_guinea-bissau_youth-literacy-rate,
title = {Guinea-Bissau Youth Literacy Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/guinea-bissau/youth-literacy-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}