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.
Literate and illiterate world population in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 97.0% | — |
| 1994 | 73.0% | -24.8% |
| 2004 | 64.1% | -12.2% |
| 2007 | 61.0% | -4.8% |
| 2013 | 51.6% | -15.3% |
| 2016 | 52.5% | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 45.0% | -14.4% |
| 2021 | 45.1% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 39.5% | -12.4% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 39.5% is above the median for low income countries, which is 38.9%, 1.0× the median. (18 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 39.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 29.1%, 1.4× the median. (36 countries reporting)
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
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2918 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.4782 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 1.28 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4782 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.5% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 23.22 million people (2100)
- Population density 325.45 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.5% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.229 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, per capita 0.7589 units per person (2025)
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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 9 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of adults who cannot read and write a short, simple statement on their everyday life.