Adult literacy rate in Burundi
71.3% of adults in Burundi could read and write in 2020. The value for 2020 is the highest in the series, which starts in 1979.
The latest value for Burundi is for 2020. Most countries have figures for 2022.
Burundi, 2020
71.3%
Change from 2017
+3.0percentage points
World, 2020
87.0%
Adult literacy rate in Burundi over time
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Burundi
World
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The chart loads when you scroll to it. The table below shows the same data.
The chart shows a calculation from the published values. The table below keeps the published values.
% of people aged 15 and above. Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Gaps mean no published value; points are not joined across missing years.
| Period | Burundi | World |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | – | 87.7% |
| 2023 | – | 87.6% |
| 2022 | – | 87.4% |
| 2021 | – | 87.2% |
| 2020 | 71.3% | 87.0% |
| 2019 | – | 86.8% |
| 2018 | – | 86.8% |
| 2017 | 68.4% | 86.5% |
| 2016 | 65.7% | 86.3% |
| 2015 | – | 86.0% |
| 2014 | 61.3% | 85.6% |
| 2013 | – | 85.2% |
| 2012 | – | 84.9% |
| 2011 | – | 84.7% |
| 2010 | – | 84.4% |
| 2009 | – | 83.8% |
| 2008 | 48.1% | 83.5% |
| 2007 | – | 83.1% |
| 2006 | – | 82.5% |
| 2005 | – | 82.6% |
| 2004 | – | 82.6% |
| 2003 | – | 82.2% |
| 2002 | – | 81.7% |
| 2001 | – | 81.4% |
| 2000 | 59.3% | 81.1% |
A dash means no value was published for that period.
In short
- The previous available figure was 68.4% in 2017, a change of +3.0 percentage points.
- Since 1979, when it was 22.5%, the figure has changed by +48.8 percentage points.
- The figure for the world in 2020 was 87.0%.
More for Burundi
All statistics for Burundi
Primary school enrolment (gross)
100.6%
2025 · World Bank
ILO estimate of the youth NEET rate
12.8%
2025 · ILOSTAT
Primary completion (UIS)
50.1%
2017 · UNESCO UIS
Lower secondary completion
25.3%
2017 · UNESCO UIS
Upper secondary completion
7.2%
2017 · UNESCO UIS
Out-of-school children
26.5%
2025 · UNESCO UIS