Literate and illiterate world population in Uganda
Uganda: Literate and illiterate world population was 23.0% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Literate and illiterate world population in Uganda, 1950–2024
Source: UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, literate and illiterate world population in Uganda stood at 23.0%.
That represents a change of up 17.8% on the previous year and down 27.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literate and illiterate world population in Uganda peaked at 72.5% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 19.5%, in 2023.
That places Uganda 36th out of 128 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.
Literate and illiterate world population in Uganda, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 72.5% | — |
| 1991 | 43.9% | -39.5% |
| 2002 | 31.9% | -27.4% |
| 2006 | 28.6% | -10.1% |
| 2010 | 26.8% | -6.4% |
| 2012 | 29.8% | +11.2% |
| 2014 | 31.5% | +5.7% |
| 2016 | 30.9% | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 21.0% | -32.2% |
| 2023 | 19.5% | -7.0% |
| 2024 | 23.0% | +17.8% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's 23.0% is below the median for low income countries, which is 38.9%, 59% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
- Uganda's 23.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 29.1%, 79% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 72.5% | 72.5% | 72.5% | 1 |
| 1990s | 43.9% | 43.9% | 43.9% | 1 |
| 2000s | 30.2% | 28.6% | 31.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 29.7% | 26.8% | 31.5% | 4 |
| 2020s | 21.1% | 19.5% | 23.0% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
More population data for Uganda
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2177 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.0339 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 1.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.0339 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.0% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 6.91 million people (2100)
- Population density 602.61 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.0% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.8617 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.53 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literate and illiterate world population in Uganda?
- Literate and illiterate world population in Uganda was 23.0% in 2024, 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 Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 72.5% in 1950.
- What is the lowest literate and illiterate world population recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.5% in 2023.
- How does Uganda rank for literate and illiterate world population?
- Uganda ranks 36th out of 128 countries with data for 2024.
- Is literate and illiterate world population rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Uganda 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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CSV · JSON — 11 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.