African countries with the highest rate of people who cannot read or write

In this present day and age, literacy stands as a fundamental pillar for individual empowerment, societal progress, and economic development. Literacy has been high on the development agenda of government institutions over the past decades; however, in various corners of Africa, many people are still unable to read or write.

This article highlights the African nations grappling with the highest rates of illiteracy, exploring the underlying factors contributing to this pressing issue and its implications for their future. To help grasp the depth of this issue, let's delve into some key findings from a recent literacy rate report from DataPandas.

According to the report, countries like Finland, Norway, Luxembourg, Andorra, Greenland, Liechtenstein, and Uzbekistan top the chart 100% literacy rate among their populace. The United States, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Canada, Australia, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark, New Zealand, Ireland, Iceland, and Monaco, among others, are closely behind with 99% literacy rates.

Seychelles is the country with the highest adult literacy rate in Africa, at around 96 per cent. Equatorial Guinea and Namibia followed with a literacy rate of 95.20% per cent and 90.82 per cent, respectively. The average rate on the continent stood at roughly 67 per cent. Moreover, Southern Africa had the highest literacy levels among African regions.

The research noted that the lowest literacy rates are found primarily in African and Middle Eastern countries. African nations still struggle more with alarming literacy gaps, with countries like Niger, Guinea, South Sudan, and Mali all having literacy rates below the global standard.

According to Niger is the country with the lowest literacy rate in the world, standing at a meagre 19.10%. Following closely behind is Guinea, with a literacy rate of 30.47%. South Sudan's literacy rate stands at 31.98%, making it the third country on the list. Mali, with a literacy rate of 33.07%, is the fourth country on the list, and the Central African Republic rounds up the top five list.

10 African Countries With Lowest Literacy Rates: