Literacy in Somalia

Somalia is a nation on the Horn of Africa with a population of approximately 18 million people.[1] As of 2022, the country has an adult literacy rate[a] of about 41%.[2][3] There is a significant gender disparity in literacy rate, with 54% of men and only 22% of women being literate.[4][5] According to USAID, the youth literacy rate[b] is approximately 70%.[6] The official languages of Somalia are Somali and Arabic, with English and Italian used as well.[6]

History

The Siad Barre government initiated large-scale public works programs in 1972, and successfully implemented an urban and rural literacy campaign, thus significantly increasing the literacy rate. By the end of the program, literacy rate in Somalia was reported to be at 80% due to the massive success of this campaign.[7] In 1975 the Somali ministry of education was awarded a UNESCO prize [8]

Former US ambassador to Somalia praised Somali literacy efforts:

''UNESCO reportedly examined this and found that when Somalis closed down the schools for two years and sent everybody to the field with chalk and blackboards and radio receivers, that they did, in a period of five years, go from a 12-16% literacy rate to an 86% literacy rate. The Somalis that I know, having been back four times since retirement, and having the privilege of traveling anywhere in the country, would say it certainly is well over 50%. Exactly how high it is, I have no way of judging. But I think it is one of the most remarkable achievements of any country in Africa.''[9]

Modern Literacy

Education in Somalia is not widespread today, with nearly 85% of children not enrolled in school according to USAID.[10] The nation has a lower secondary education completion rate of 19.5%.[3] Somalia's relatively poor education and low literacy rates have largely been attributed to the effects of the ongoing Somali Civil War, which began around 1991.[11] Despite this, the current adult literacy rate of 41%[2]

Notes

  1. ^ Defined as the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.
  2. ^ Defined as the percentage of the population aged 15–24 who can read and write.

References

  1. ^ "Somalia". UNICEF. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Literacy Rate, Adult Total". World Bank Group. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Country Profile: Somalia" (PDF). United Nations. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  4. ^ "Literacy Rate, Adult Male". World Bank Group. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  5. ^ "Literacy Rate, Adult Female". World Bank Group. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Somalia - Education - Literacy". USAID. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  7. ^ The World Factbook 1986 (PDF). Central Intelligence Agency. 1986. p. 223. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  8. ^ J. Hoben, Susan. "LITERACY CAMPAIGNS IN ETHIOPIA AND SOMALIA: A COMPARISON". Northeast African Studies (African studies): 118 – via JSTOR.
  9. ^ "Interview with John L. Loughran" (PDF). Library of Congress. p. 26.
  10. ^ "Somalia - Education and Health" (PDF). USAID. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  11. ^ Hassan, Mohamed (23 July 2020). "Literacy in Somalia: A Struggle to Rebuild the System Broken by War". DevelopmentAid. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
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