São Tomé and Principe Youth Literacy Rate
Literacy rate among youth ages 15-24 SE.ADT.1524.LT.ZS
São Tomé and Principe's youth literacy rate was 95.49% in 2019, ranked 42nd globally. This represents a 1.3% decrease from 2018. Data from World Bank, covering 1981–2019.
Overview
São Tomé and Principe's youth literacy rate stood at 95.49% in 2019, a decline of +1.25pp from 2012. São Tomé and Principe ranked 42nd globally.
São Tomé and Príncipe recorded a youth literacy rate of 95.49% in 2019, ranking 42nd globally, according to World Bank data. This represents a marked improvement from the earliest recorded figure of 82.40% in 1981, reflecting sustained progress over nearly four decades. The all-time peak of 96.74% was reached in 2012, indicating that recent rates have slightly declined from their maximum. The 2019 rate places São Tomé and Príncipe just above Bangladesh at 94.86% and slightly below Myanmar at 95.42%, positioning it within a cluster of developing nations making gradual gains in education access. With data coverage spanning five years, the trend suggests that while youth literacy remains relatively high, progress has plateaued and even receded marginally since the early 2010s. Sustained investment in educational infrastructure, teacher training, and rural access will be critical to reversing the recent stagnation and advancing toward universal youth literacy in the coming decade.
Data & projection
| Year | Youth Literacy Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 95.49% | −1.25pp | #42 |
| 2012 | 96.74% | +1.32pp | #30 |
| 2001 | 95.42% | +1.57pp | #20 |
| 1991 | 93.85% | +11.45pp | #13 |
| 1981 | 82.40% | – | #13 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
São Tomé and Principe matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2024. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw youth literacy rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
São Tomé and Principe's youth literacy rate was 95.49% in 2019. Ranked 42nd globally. This represents a 1.3% decrease from the previous year.
São Tomé and Principe's youth literacy rate peaked at 96.74% in 2012.
The lowest youth literacy rate in São Tomé and Principe was 82.40% in 1981.
São Tomé and Principe ranks 42nd globally in youth literacy rate as of 2019.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.ADT.1524.LT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The youth literacy rate of São Tomé and Principe in 2019 was 95.49%. This ranks 42nd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_s-o-tom-and-principe_youth-literacy-rate,
title = {São Tomé and Principe Youth Literacy Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/s-o-tom-and-principe/youth-literacy-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}