Literacy Rate: Burundi
Burundi's literacy rate is currently 71.3% as of 2020. # Burundi Literacy Rate Burundi's literacy rate reached 71.
Current (2020)
71.3%
+4.3% y/y
Peak (2020)
71.3%
Low (1979)
22.5%
Source
World Bank World Development Indicators
1979–2020 · 8 pts
Literacy Rate — Burundi
1979 — 2020
Literacy Rate — Burundi
Analysis# Burundi Literacy Rate
Burundi's literacy rate reached 71.337% in 2020, marking the country's highest level on record. This represents a dramatic recovery from 1979, when only 22.51% of the population could read and write—a gain of 216.9% over four decades. The trajectory from the late 1970s through 2020 reflects sustained educational investment despite significant development challenges.
The most striking shifts occurred between 1979 and 2000, when literacy nearly tripled from 22.51% to 59.3%. Growth continued steadily through the 2010s, accelerating from 61.29% in 2014 to 68.38% in 2017. The consistent upward momentum suggests Burundi's education sector has maintained prioritization despite regional instability, positioning the country toward further improvements in coming years.
Historical Data
8 Rows| Year | Value | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 71.3% | +4.32% |
| 2017 | 68.4% | +4.09% |
| 2016 | 65.7% | +7.18% |
| 2014 | 61.3% | +27.48% |
| 2008 | 48.1% | -18.92% |
| 2000 | 59.3% | +58.64% |
| 1990 | 37.4% | +66.06% |
| 1979 | 22.5% | — |
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