Sierra Leone Youth Literacy Rate
Literacy rate among youth ages 15-24 SE.ADT.1524.LT.ZS
Sierra Leone's youth literacy rate was 72.99% in 2019, ranked 54th globally. This represents a 5.4% decrease from 2018. Data from World Bank, covering 2004–2019.
Overview
Sierra Leone's youth literacy rate stood at 72.99% in 2019, a decline of +4.14pp from 2018. Sierra Leone ranked 54th globally.
Sierra Leone's youth literacy rate has shown a steady improvement over the past decade, rising from 47.93% in 2004 to 72.99% in 2019, according to World Bank data. The country's youth literacy rate peaked at 77.13% in 2018, just a year before the latest available data, indicating a slowdown in progress. Despite this, Sierra Leone's youth literacy rate remains ranked 54th globally, outpacing peer countries such as Guinea-Bissau, which ranked 73rd with a rate of 75.32%. Pakistan, another peer, had a youth literacy rate of 72.70%, slightly lower than Sierra Leone's. The improvement in Sierra Leone's youth literacy rate is a positive trend, but sustaining this momentum will require continued investment in education, particularly in rural areas where access to schooling remains a challenge. If the government can maintain its commitment to education, Sierra Leone may see its youth literacy rate continue to rise, narrowing the gap with higher-ranked countries.
Data & projection
| Year | Youth Literacy Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 72.99% | −4.14pp | #54 |
| 2018 | 77.13% | +3.53pp | #48 |
| 2017 | 73.60% | +5.71pp | #46 |
| 2015 | 67.89% | −1.90pp | #43 |
| 2013 | 69.79% | +11.37pp | #38 |
| 2008 | 58.42% | +10.49pp | #34 |
| 2004 | 47.93% | – | #22 |
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 youth literacy rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Sierra Leone's youth literacy rate was 72.99% in 2019. Ranked 54th globally. This represents a 5.4% decrease from the previous year.
Sierra Leone's youth literacy rate peaked at 77.13% in 2018.
The lowest youth literacy rate in Sierra Leone was 47.93% in 2004.
Sierra Leone ranks 54th 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 Sierra Leone in 2019 was 72.99%. This ranks 54th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_sierra-leone_youth-literacy-rate,
title = {Sierra Leone Youth Literacy Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/sierra-leone/youth-literacy-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}