Countries with the Lowest Literacy Rates (2022)
Source: World Bank·25 countries·Updated 2022
Literacy is foundational to economic participation and human development. These 25 countries face the greatest literacy challenges in 2022.
Niger leads with adult literacy rate (%) of 35.6%.
Mali ranks #2 at 35.6%.
Afghanistan ranks #3 at 37.3%.
Burkina Faso ranks #4 at 41.6%.
Cote d'Ivoire ranks #5 at 50.0%.
Bottom 25 Countries by Adult Literacy Rate (%)
| # | Country | Adult Literacy Rate (%) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Niger | 35.6% | 2022 |
| 2 |  Mali | 35.6% | 2024 |
| 3 |  Afghanistan | 37.3% | 2021 |
| 4 |  Burkina Faso | 41.6% | 2023 |
| 5 |  Cote d'Ivoire | 50.0% | 2021 |
| 6 |  Senegal | 50.4% | 2023 |
| 7 |  Benin | 51.4% | 2022 |
| 8 |  Gambia, The | 51.6% | 2021 |
| 9 |  Somalia, Fed. Rep. | 54.1% | 2022 |
| 10 |  Pakistan | 58.9% | 2021 |
| 11 |  Mauritania | 59.5% | 2020 |
| 12 |  Ethiopia | 60.5% | 2022 |
| 13 |  Mozambique | 61.7% | 2022 |
| 14 |  Guinea-Bissau | 63.9% | 2022 |
| 15 |  Bhutan | 64.9% | 2022 |
| 16 |  Angola | 68.2% | 2023 |
| 17 |  Congo, Dem. Rep. | 68.5% | 2023 |
| 18 |  Timor-Leste | 69.4% | 2022 |
| 19 |  Malawi | 70.2% | 2020 |
| 20 |  Nigeria | 70.4% | 2024 |
| 21 |  Burundi | 71.3% | 2020 |
| 22 |  Zambia | 71.8% | 2024 |
| 23 |  Cambodia | 71.9% | 2021 |
| 24 |  Togo | 72.6% | 2022 |
| 25 |  Madagascar | 74.7% | 2021 |
Data from 98 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 98 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.