Adult literacy rate in Gambia
51.6% of adults in Gambia could read and write in 2021.
Gambia, 2021
51.6%
Change from 2018
−1.5percentage points
World, 2021
87.2%
Adult literacy rate in Gambia over time
View
Gambia
World
×
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 | Gambia | World |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | – | 87.7% |
| 2023 | – | 87.6% |
| 2022 | – | 87.4% |
| 2021 | 51.6% | 87.2% |
| 2020 | – | 87.0% |
| 2019 | – | 86.8% |
| 2018 | 53.2% | 86.8% |
| 2017 | – | 86.5% |
| 2016 | – | 86.3% |
| 2015 | 50.8% | 86.0% |
| 2014 | – | 85.6% |
| 2013 | – | 85.2% |
| 2012 | – | 84.9% |
| 2011 | – | 84.7% |
| 2010 | – | 84.4% |
| 2009 | – | 83.8% |
| 2008 | – | 83.5% |
| 2007 | – | 83.1% |
| 2006 | – | 82.5% |
| 2005 | – | 82.6% |
| 2004 | – | 82.6% |
| 2003 | – | 82.2% |
| 2002 | – | 81.7% |
| 2001 | – | 81.4% |
| 2000 | 36.8% | 81.1% |
A dash means no value was published for that period.
In short
- The previous available figure was 53.2% in 2018, a change of −1.5 percentage points.
- Since 2000, when it was 36.8%, the figure has changed by +14.8 percentage points.
- The figure for the world in 2021 was 87.2%.
More for Gambia
All statistics for Gambia
Primary school enrolment (gross)
100.4%
2025 · World Bank
ILO estimate of the youth NEET rate
39.8%
2025 · ILOSTAT
Primary completion (UIS)
62.3%
2023 · UNESCO UIS
Lower secondary completion
47.0%
2023 · UNESCO UIS
Upper secondary completion
31.2%
2023 · UNESCO UIS
Out-of-school children
16.9%
2025 · UNESCO UIS