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Lowest adult literacy rates

Chad has the lowest adult literacy rate in the latest data, 30.6% in 2019, followed by Mali at 35.5% and Niger at 35.6%.

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What the data shows

  • Mauritania ranks #1 with 59.5%, ahead of Pakistan (58.9%) and Somalia, Fed. Rep. (54.1%).

About this chart

This ranking lists the lowest adult literacy rates, not the highest. Chad is at the bottom with 30.6% of people aged 15 and older able to read and write, based on 2019 data. Mali follows at 35.5% (2018), Niger at 35.6% (2022) and Afghanistan at 37.3% (2021). Guinea (39.6%) and Burkina Faso (40.9%) also sit below 41%. West and Central Africa fill most of the list, with Pakistan (58.9%) the other South Asian entry besides Afghanistan.

The indicator is the World Bank's adult literacy rate, the share of people 15 and older who can both read and write a short, simple statement about their everyday life. It covers countries with more than 1 million people. Literacy surveys are infrequent, so each country appears at its most recent value from the last ten years, and the years run from 2018 to 2022. Comparing two rows means comparing different years.

The data

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (SE.ADT.LITR.ZS), adult literacy rate, % of people 15 and older; countries over 1 million people. Retrieved November 4, 2026. Each country's most recent value from the last ten years.

Lowest adult literacy rates, % of people 15+ who can read and write, Latest
Date🇹🇩 Chad🇲🇱 Mali🇳🇪 Niger🇦🇫 Afghanistan🇬🇳 Guinea🇧🇫 Burkina Faso🇨🇫 Central African Republic🇸🇱 Sierra Leone🇸🇳 Senegal🇨🇮 Côte d'Ivoire🇧🇯 Benin🇬🇲 Gambia🇸🇴 Somalia, Fed. Rep.🇵🇰 Pakistan🇲🇷 Mauritania
Latest30.6%35.5%35.6%37.3%39.6%40.9%42.4%43.6%46.8%50.0%51.4%51.6%54.1%58.9%59.5%

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Frequently asked questions

Which country has the lowest literacy rate?

Chad has the lowest adult literacy rate in the latest data, at 30.6% in 2019. Mali is next at 35.5% in 2018 and Niger at 35.6% in 2022.

How is the adult literacy rate defined?

It is the percentage of people aged 15 and older who can read and write a short, simple statement about their everyday life, as reported to the World Bank. It does not measure advanced reading skills.

Why are the data years different for each country?

Literacy is measured through censuses and household surveys that are not repeated every year. The chart shows each country's most recent value from the last ten years, so years range from 2018 to 2022.

Where does this data come from?

World Bank, World Development Indicators (SE.ADT.LITR.ZS), adult literacy rate, % of people 15 and older; countries over 1 million people. Retrieved November 4, 2026. Each country's most recent value from the last ten years. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.

Can I turn this chart into a video?

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