Countries with the Lowest Literacy Rate (2022)
Source: World Bank·25 countries·Updated 2022
Low literacy signals severe education gaps. {#1} has just {#1_value}.
Niger leads with adult literacy rate (%) of 35.6%.
Afghanistan ranks #2 at 37.3%.
Burkina Faso ranks #3 at 41.4%.
Cote d'Ivoire ranks #4 at 50.0%.
Senegal ranks #5 at 50.4%.
Bottom 25 Countries by Adult Literacy Rate (%)
| # | Country | Adult Literacy Rate (%) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Niger | 35.6% | 2022 |
| 2 |  Afghanistan | 37.3% | 2021 |
| 3 |  Burkina Faso | 41.4% | 2023 |
| 4 |  Cote d'Ivoire | 50.0% | 2021 |
| 5 |  Senegal | 50.4% | 2023 |
| 6 |  Benin | 51.4% | 2022 |
| 7 |  Gambia, The | 51.6% | 2021 |
| 8 |  Somalia, Fed. Rep. | 54.1% | 2022 |
| 9 |  Pakistan | 58.9% | 2021 |
| 10 |  Ethiopia | 60.5% | 2022 |
| 11 |  Mozambique | 61.7% | 2022 |
| 12 |  Guinea-Bissau | 63.9% | 2022 |
| 13 |  Bhutan | 64.9% | 2022 |
| 14 |  Nigeria | 70.4% | 2024 |
| 15 |  Cambodia | 71.9% | 2021 |
| 16 |  Timor-Leste | 72.5% | 2022 |
| 17 |  Togo | 72.6% | 2022 |
| 18 |  Madagascar | 74.7% | 2021 |
| 19 |  Lao PDR | 75.6% | 2023 |
| 20 |  Comoros | 75.8% | 2021 |
| 21 |  Ghana | 76.5% | 2021 |
| 22 |  Tanzania | 78.2% | 2022 |
| 23 |  Rwanda | 78.8% | 2022 |
| 24 |  Bangladesh | 79.0% | 2022 |
| 25 |  Uganda | 79.1% | 2021 |
Data from 82 countries is available. View full rankings →
FAQ
What is the lowest adult literacy rate (%) in 2022?
Niger has the lowest adult literacy rate (%) at 35.6% in 2022.
How many countries are included in this ranking?
This article features the bottom 25 countries out of 82 with available data. Full rankings available on the indicator page.
Where does this data come from?
Data is sourced from the World Bank. It is updated regularly as new releases become available.