Benin Literacy Rate 1979-2023

Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.
  • Benin literacy rate for 2021 was 45.84%, a 3.48% increase from 2018.
  • Benin literacy rate for 2018 was 42.36%, a 9.41% increase from 2012.
  • Benin literacy rate for 2012 was 32.95%, a 4.25% increase from 2006.
  • Benin literacy rate for 2006 was 28.70%, a 5.96% decline from 2002.
Data Source: World Bank

MLA Citation:
Similar Country Ranking
Country Name Literacy Rate
Zimbabwe 89.70%
Tanzania 81.80%
Democratic Republic of Congo 80.02%
Uganda 79.00%
Madagascar 77.25%
Rwanda 75.90%
Burundi 74.71%
Nepal 71.15%
Malawi 67.31%
Mozambique 63.42%
Comoros 61.99%
Gambia 58.06%
Senegal 56.30%
Guinea-Bissau 52.89%
Sierra Leone 47.70%
Burkina Faso 46.04%
Benin 45.84%
Guinea 45.33%
Niger 37.34%
Afghanistan 37.27%
Chad 26.76%
Benin Literacy Rate - Historical Data
Year Literacy Rate Annual Change
2021 45.84% 3.48%
2018 42.36% 9.41%
2012 32.95% 4.25%
2006 28.70% -5.96%
2002 34.66% 7.41%
1992 27.25% 10.76%
1979 16.48% 10.76%