Literacy Rate: Côte d'Ivoire

Analysis# Côte d'Ivoire Literacy Rate Côte d'Ivoire's literacy rate stood at 50% in 2021, marking a substantial 46.5% increase from 1988's low of 34.14%. The country reached its peak of 56.96% in 2019, demonstrating genuine educational progress over the three-decade span. Current levels remain 6.96 percentage points below this recent high, signaling a slight reversal after years of steady gains. The most dramatic improvement occurred between 1998 and 2000, when literacy jumped from 36.35% to 48.74%—nearly 12 percentage points in two years. A sharp decline followed between 2019 and 2021, dropping from the peak to 50%, suggesting recent headwinds in educational access or measurement. Whether this dip reflects temporary disruption or a sustained trend will determine whether Côte d'Ivoire can reclaim its 2019 trajectory or consolidate gains at current levels.