10 answers, 3 from Burkina Faso's own official bodies, with a link to each figure.
47.2% of candidates passed the BEPC, the lower-secondary certificate, in Burkina Faso in 2024, according to the National Statistical Yearbook 2024, citing the education ministry. 101,078 of the 214,159 candidates who sat the exam passed.
The pass rate was 38.3% in 2023 and 41.3% in 2022. The number of candidates was 305,543 in 2018. Results for 2025 and 2026 are announced by the education ministry.
52.6% of candidates passed the baccalaureate in Burkina Faso in 2024, according to the National Statistical Yearbook 2024, citing the ministry of secondary education. 62,449 of the 118,686 candidates who sat the exam passed.
The pass rate was 39.3% in 2023 and 34.1% in 2021. The baccalaureate is the end-of-secondary exam that gives access to higher education. The yearbook reports 191 higher education establishments in 2023/24.
42.0% of adults in Burkina Faso could read and write in 2021, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Demography (INSD), based on the EHCVM 2021 survey. The World Bank gives 41.6% for 2023, from UNESCO data.
INSD also reports a gross primary enrolment rate of 74.4% in 2022/23. A gross enrolment rate compares all pupils enrolled in primary school with the population of official primary-school age, so it can be affected by pupils who are older or younger than that age.
The figures below use one definition for every country, so they can differ from national figures.
78.6%: that is net primary school enrolment in Burkina Faso for 2018, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. That is the highest since at least 2005. It is 16th highest of 19 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 90.7%. Worldwide: 62nd of 69.
In 2024, gross secondary school enrolment in Burkina Faso was 30.0%, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Since 2005 it has ranged from 13.4% (2005) to 40.1% (2019). It is 9th highest of 11 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 65.3%. World rank, highest first: 98th of 100.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2024, is 10.0%. Since 2005 it has ranged from 2.1% (2005) to 10.1% (2023). Sub-Saharan Africa median: 12.9%; Burkina Faso is 10th highest of 14. Of 90 countries with 2024 data, 84th highest.
41.6%: that is the adult literacy rate in Burkina Faso for 2023, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 68.5%, and Burkina Faso placed 7th highest of 7. Of 33 countries with 2023 data, 33rd highest.
In 2023, government spending on education in Burkina Faso was 5.3% of GDP, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Since 2005 it has ranged from 3.5% of GDP (2010) to 5.6% of GDP (2017). Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 3.3% of GDP, and Burkina Faso placed 4th highest of 35. World rank, highest first: 21st of 112.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the number of primary pupils per teacher in Burkina Faso was 40 in 2018. That is the lowest since at least 2005. It is 10th highest of 23 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 39. Of 85 countries with 2018 data, 13th highest.
52.0%: that is the primary completion rate in Burkina Faso for 2024, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Its high point since 2005 was 2021, at 63.7%; its low point was 2005, at 30.5%. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 77.3%, and Burkina Faso placed 18th highest of 19. Worldwide: 103rd of 104.
Read on 14 October 2026. Definitions · Report an error