Literate and illiterate world population in Gambia

Gambia: Literate and illiterate world population was 48.4% in 2021. ▼ Falling

Latest (2021)
48.4%
Change on year
up 3.2%
World rank
12th
of 128 countries
All-time high
92.5%
in 1950
All-time low
46.8%
in 2018
Years of data
5
1950–2021

Literate and illiterate world population in Gambia, 1950–2021

0204060801001950198520211950: 92.5 %2000: 63.2 %2015: 49.2 %2018: 46.8 %2021: 48.4 %

Source: UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2021, literate and illiterate world population in Gambia stood at 48.4%.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.2% on the previous year and down 1.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literate and illiterate world population in Gambia peaked at 92.5% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 46.8%, in 2018.

That places Gambia 12th out of 128 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 92.5% 92.5% 92.5% 1
2000s 63.2% 63.2% 63.2% 1
2010s 48.0% 46.8% 49.2% 2
2020s 48.4% 48.4% 48.4% 1

Countries ranked near Gambia

  1. 9 Cote d'Ivoire 50.0% compare
  2. 10 Senegal 49.6% compare
  3. 11 Benin 48.6% compare
  4. 13 Pakistan 41.1% compare
  5. 14 Ethiopia 39.5% compare
  6. 15 Mozambique 38.3% compare

See the full ranking of 128 places →

More population data for Gambia

All data for Gambia →

Frequently asked questions

What is literate and illiterate world population in Gambia?
Literate and illiterate world population in Gambia was 48.4% in 2021, 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 Gambia?
The highest recorded value was 92.5% in 1950.
What is the lowest literate and illiterate world population recorded in Gambia?
The lowest recorded value was 46.8% in 2018.
How does Gambia rank for literate and illiterate world population?
Gambia ranks 12th out of 128 countries with data for 2021.
Is literate and illiterate world population rising or falling in Gambia?
Over the last ten years it is down 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Gambia 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.

Download this data

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About this data

Indicator
Literate and illiterate world population
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
128 places, 1,272 data points, 1475–2024
Last refreshed

Share of adults who cannot read and write a short, simple statement on their everyday life.