Mauritania Youth Literacy Rate
Literacy rate among youth ages 15-24 SE.ADT.1524.LT.ZS
Mauritania's youth literacy rate was 70.86% in 2020, ranked 40th globally. This represents a 13.0% decrease from 2019. Data from World Bank, covering 2000–2020.
Overview
Mauritania's youth literacy rate stood at 70.86% in 2020, a decline of +10.56pp from 2015. Mauritania ranked 40th globally.
Mauritania’s youth literacy rate rose from 61.34 % in 2000 to a peak of 81.42 % in 2015, before slipping to 70.86 % in 2020, placing the country 40th globally. The 2020 figure reflects a modest decline after the 2015 high point, suggesting that gains made during the early 2000s and mid‑2010s have not been fully sustained. Compared with regional peers, Mauritania’s rate is slightly above Mozambique’s 70.08 % but well below Zambia’s 85.86 % and Malawi’s 80.73 %, indicating room for improvement relative to neighboring performances. The four‑year coverage period captures the post‑peak contraction, which may be linked to economic pressures, limited education financing, or demographic shifts that strain schooling capacity. Continued investment in teacher training, curriculum relevance, and outreach to remote areas could reverse the recent dip and steer Mauritania back toward the higher literacy levels recorded in 2015.
Data & projection
| Year | Youth Literacy Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 70.86% | −10.56pp | #40 |
| 2015 | 81.42% | +10.39pp | #39 |
| 2013 | 71.03% | +9.69pp | #37 |
| 2000 | 61.34% | – | #48 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Mauritania matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2006. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw youth literacy rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Mauritania's youth literacy rate was 70.86% in 2020. Ranked 40th globally. This represents a 13.0% decrease from the previous year.
Mauritania's youth literacy rate peaked at 81.42% in 2015.
The lowest youth literacy rate in Mauritania was 61.34% in 2000.
Mauritania ranks 40th globally in youth literacy rate as of 2020.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.ADT.1524.LT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The youth literacy rate of Mauritania in 2020 was 70.86%. This ranks 40th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_mauritania_youth-literacy-rate,
title = {Mauritania Youth Literacy Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/mauritania/youth-literacy-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}