Literate and illiterate world population in Rwanda

Rwanda: Literate and illiterate world population was 21.2% in 2022. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2022)
21.2%
Change on year
up 6.5%
World rank
39th
of 128 countries
All-time high
92.5%
in 1950
All-time low
19.9%
in 2020
Years of data
9
1950–2022

Literate and illiterate world population in Rwanda, 1950–2022

204060801001950198620221950: 92.5 %1978: 61.8 %1991: 42.1 %2000: 35.1 %2012: 31.7 %2014: 29.2 %2018: 26.8 %2020: 19.9 %2022: 21.2 %

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

Analysis

Rwanda recorded 21.2% for literate and illiterate world population in 2022.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.5% on the previous year and down 32.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literate and illiterate world population in Rwanda peaked at 92.5% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 19.9%, in 2020.

That places Rwanda 39th out of 128 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.

Literate and illiterate world population in Rwanda, year by year

Annual values for Literate and illiterate world population in Rwanda, 1950 to 2022.
Year % Change
1950 92.5%
1978 61.8% -33.2%
1991 42.1% -31.8%
2000 35.1% -16.7%
2012 31.7% -9.8%
2014 29.2% -7.8%
2018 26.8% -8.3%
2020 19.9% -25.5%
2022 21.2% +6.5%

Rwanda compared with similar countries

  • Rwanda's 21.2% is below the median for low income countries, which is 38.9%, 55% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
  • Rwanda's 21.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 29.1%, 73% of the median. (36 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 92.5% 92.5% 92.5% 1
1970s 61.8% 61.8% 61.8% 1
1990s 42.1% 42.1% 42.1% 1
2000s 35.1% 35.1% 35.1% 1
2010s 29.2% 26.8% 31.7% 3
2020s 20.6% 19.9% 21.2% 2

Countries ranked near Rwanda

  1. 36 Uganda 23.0% compare
  2. 37 India 21.8% compare
  3. 38 Tanzania 21.8% compare
  4. 40 Bangladesh 21.0% compare
  5. 41 Egypt 20.5% compare
  6. 42 Guatemala 17.9% compare

See the full ranking of 128 places →

More population data for Rwanda

All data for Rwanda →

Frequently asked questions

What is literate and illiterate world population in Rwanda?
Literate and illiterate world population in Rwanda was 21.2% 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 Rwanda?
The highest recorded value was 92.5% in 1950.
What is the lowest literate and illiterate world population recorded in Rwanda?
The lowest recorded value was 19.9% in 2020.
How does Rwanda rank for literate and illiterate world population?
Rwanda ranks 39th out of 128 countries with data for 2022.
Is literate and illiterate world population rising or falling in Rwanda?
Over the last ten years it is down 32.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Rwanda 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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Literate and illiterate world population in Rwanda. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/literate-and-illiterate-world-population/rwanda/

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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.