Literacy Rate: Zimbabwe

Analysis# Zimbabwe Literacy Rate Zimbabwe's literacy rate reached 93.23% in 2019, matching its all-time peak and representing a 19.8 percentage point gain from 1982's low of 77.79%. This upward trajectory reflects sustained progress in educational access and attainment over nearly four decades. The country's literacy performance now ranks among the stronger performers in sub-Saharan Africa, with the majority of the population able to read and write. The most significant improvements occurred between 1982 and 1992, when the rate jumped from 77.79% to 83.51%—a 5.7 percentage point gain driven by post-independence education expansion. Growth then moderated but continued through 2019, adding another 9.7 percentage points over 27 years. Barring unforeseen reversals, Zimbabwe's literacy trajectory suggests continued consolidation at or near the 93% level, dependent on sustained investment in primary and secondary education systems.