Literate and illiterate world population in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Literate and illiterate world population was 39.5% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Literate and illiterate world population in Ethiopia, 1950–2022
Source: UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2022, literate and illiterate world population in Ethiopia stood at 39.5%. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
That represents a change of down 12.4% on the previous year and down 23.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literate and illiterate world population in Ethiopia peaked at 97.0% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 39.5%, in 2022.
That places Ethiopia 14th out of 128 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 97.0% | 97.0% | 97.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 73.0% | 73.0% | 73.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 62.5% | 61.0% | 64.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 49.7% | 45.0% | 52.5% | 3 |
| 2020s | 42.3% | 39.5% | 45.1% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More population data for Ethiopia
- Population growth rate 2.6% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literate and illiterate world population in Ethiopia?
- Literate and illiterate world population in Ethiopia was 39.5% in 2022, according to UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literate and illiterate world population recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 97.0% in 1950.
- What is the lowest literate and illiterate world population recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 39.5% in 2022.
- How does Ethiopia rank for literate and illiterate world population?
- Ethiopia ranks 14th out of 128 countries with data for 2022.
- Is literate and illiterate world population rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Literate and illiterate world population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of adults who cannot read and write a short, simple statement on their everyday life.