Literate and illiterate world population in Madagascar

Madagascar: Literate and illiterate world population was 25.3% in 2021. ▼ Falling

Latest (2021)
25.3%
Change on year
up 8.5%
World rank
31st
of 128 countries
All-time high
67.5%
in 1950
All-time low
23.3%
in 2018
Years of data
5
1950–2021

Literate and illiterate world population in Madagascar, 1950–2021

2030405060701950198520211950: 67.5 %2000: 29.3 %2012: 28.4 %2018: 23.3 %2021: 25.3 %

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 Madagascar stood at 25.3%.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.5% on the previous year and down 11.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literate and illiterate world population in Madagascar peaked at 67.5% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 23.3%, in 2018.

That places Madagascar 31st out of 128 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 67.5% 67.5% 67.5% 1
2000s 29.3% 29.3% 29.3% 1
2010s 25.9% 23.3% 28.4% 2
2020s 25.3% 25.3% 25.3% 1

Countries ranked near Madagascar

  1. 28 Cambodia 28.1% compare
  2. 29 Cameroon 27.4% compare
  3. 30 Togo 27.4% compare
  4. 32 Algeria 24.9% compare
  5. 33 Comoros 24.4% compare
  6. 34 Laos 24.4% compare

See the full ranking of 128 places →

More population data for Madagascar

All data for Madagascar →

Frequently asked questions

What is literate and illiterate world population in Madagascar?
Literate and illiterate world population in Madagascar was 25.3% 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 Madagascar?
The highest recorded value was 67.5% in 1950.
What is the lowest literate and illiterate world population recorded in Madagascar?
The lowest recorded value was 23.3% in 2018.
How does Madagascar rank for literate and illiterate world population?
Madagascar ranks 31st out of 128 countries with data for 2021.
Is literate and illiterate world population rising or falling in Madagascar?
Over the last ten years it is down 11.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Madagascar 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

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.