Zimbabwe Youth Literacy Rate
Literacy rate among youth ages 15-24 SE.ADT.1524.LT.ZS
Zimbabwe's youth literacy rate was 92.51% in 2019, ranked 48th globally. This represents a 3.0% decrease from 2018. Data from World Bank, covering 1982–2019.
Overview
Zimbabwe's youth literacy rate stood at 92.51% in 2019, a decline of +2.90pp from 1992. Zimbabwe ranked 48th globally.
Zimbabwe’s youth literacy rate has risen modestly from the all‑time trough of 89.02 % in 1982 to a peak of 95.41 % in 1992, before settling at 92.51 % in the latest 2019 World Bank estimate, placing the country 48th globally. The upward trajectory over the past four decades reflects sustained investment in primary education, yet the post‑peak decline suggests lingering challenges in maintaining gains, possibly linked to economic instability and intermittent school disruptions. Compared with peers, Zimbabwe’s 2019 rate exceeds Kiribati’s 90.44 % but trails Nepal’s 94.24 % and Cambodia’s 94.76 %, indicating room for improvement relative to similarly ranked nations. The three‑year coverage of the data set limits a granular view of recent fluctuations, but the pattern of gradual improvement since the early 1990s points to a cautiously optimistic outlook, provided that policy continuity and resource allocation strengthen to sustain higher literacy outcomes for young people.
Data & projection
| Year | Youth Literacy Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 92.51% | −2.90pp | #48 |
| 1992 | 95.41% | +6.39pp | #5 |
| 1982 | 89.02% | – | #4 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Zimbabwe 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
Zimbabwe's youth literacy rate was 92.51% in 2019. Ranked 48th globally. This represents a 3.0% decrease from the previous year.
Zimbabwe's youth literacy rate peaked at 95.41% in 1992.
The lowest youth literacy rate in Zimbabwe was 89.02% in 1982.
Zimbabwe ranks 48th 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 Zimbabwe in 2019 was 92.51%. This ranks 48th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_zimbabwe_youth-literacy-rate,
title = {Zimbabwe Youth Literacy Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/zimbabwe/youth-literacy-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}