Sierra Leone Literacy Rate
Adult literacy rate SE.ADT.LITR.ZS
Sierra Leone's literacy rate was 43.58% in 2019, ranked 51st globally. This represents a 10.7% decrease from 2018. Data from World Bank, covering 2004–2019.
Overview
Sierra Leone's literacy rate stood at 43.58% in 2019, a decline of +5.24pp from 2018. Sierra Leone ranked 51st globally.
Sierra Leone's literacy rate exhibited a mixed trend between 2004 and 2019, with a notable increase from its all-time trough of 34.83% in 2004 to its all-time peak of 49.40% in 2015. However, the rate declined to 43.58% by 2019, positioning the country at 51st globally. Compared to its peer countries, Sierra Leone's literacy rate remains lower than Senegal's 46.83% and Benin's 49.00%, but higher than Central African Republic's 42.44% and Chad's 30.63%. Despite the decline, Sierra Leone's literacy rate still demonstrates a significant improvement from its 2004 baseline. The slight decline in literacy rate from 2015 to 2019 may indicate a slowing of progress in the country's education sector. A sustained investment in education infrastructure and initiatives aimed at improving teacher training and student access to education could help reverse this trend and propel Sierra Leone's literacy rate towards a more rapid growth trajectory.
Data & projection
| Year | Literacy Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 43.58% | −5.24pp | #51 |
| 2018 | 48.82% | +3.99pp | #43 |
| 2017 | 44.83% | −4.57pp | #41 |
| 2015 | 49.40% | +5.06pp | #43 |
| 2014 | 44.34% | +9.51pp | #41 |
| 2004 | 34.83% | – | #16 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Sierra Leone matched the Currency Crisis Pattern pattern in 2023. Historically, 27% of countries showing this pattern (35 out of 128) saw literacy rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Sierra Leone's literacy rate was 43.58% in 2019. Ranked 51st globally. This represents a 10.7% decrease from the previous year.
Sierra Leone's literacy rate peaked at 49.40% in 2015.
The lowest literacy rate in Sierra Leone was 34.83% in 2004.
Sierra Leone ranks 51st globally in literacy rate as of 2019.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.ADT.LITR.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The literacy rate of Sierra Leone in 2019 was 43.58%. This ranks 51st in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_sierra-leone_literacy-rate,
title = {Sierra Leone Literacy Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/sierra-leone/literacy-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}