In 2023, ***** percent of people aged 15 years and above in Africa were able to read and write a simple statement and understand it. Regionally, Southern Africa presented the highest literacy rate, at around ** percent. North and East Africa had similar shares of literate people, at over ** percent. In contrast, **** percent and ** percent of the adult population in Central and West Africa could read and write.
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
OECD. (October 8, 2024). Adult literacy rate in Africa as of 2023, by region [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved July 16, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1233204/adult-literacy-rate-in-africa-by-region/
OECD. "Adult literacy rate in Africa as of 2023, by region." Chart. October 8, 2024. Statista. Accessed July 16, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1233204/adult-literacy-rate-in-africa-by-region/
OECD. (2024). Adult literacy rate in Africa as of 2023, by region. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: July 16, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1233204/adult-literacy-rate-in-africa-by-region/
OECD. "Adult Literacy Rate in Africa as of 2023, by Region." Statista, Statista Inc., 8 Oct 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1233204/adult-literacy-rate-in-africa-by-region/
OECD, Adult literacy rate in Africa as of 2023, by region Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1233204/adult-literacy-rate-in-africa-by-region/ (last visited July 16, 2025)
Adult literacy rate in Africa as of 2023, by region [Graph], OECD, October 8, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1233204/adult-literacy-rate-in-africa-by-region/