What factors influence world literacy? is Africa different?, Vol. 1 of 1

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What factors influence world literacy? is Africa different?

Author:	Verner, Dorte;	Collection Title:	Policy, Research working papers ; no. WPS 3496
Country:	Africa;	Date Stored:	2005/02/15
Document Date:	2005/01/01	Document Type:	Policy Research Working Paper
Language:	English	Region:	Africa
Report Number:	WPS3496	SubTopics:	Primary Education; Curriculum & Instruction; Education Reform and Management; Public Health Promotion; Gender and Education; Nonformal Education
Volume No:	1 of 1

Summary: Ninety-five percent of the worldﾒs illiterate people live in developing countries, and about 70 percent are women. Female illiteracy rates are particularly high in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Niger and Burkina Faso, for example, more than 90 percent of women are illiterate. This paper presents a model of literacy. It shows that the main determinants of worldwide literacy are enrollment rates, average years of schooling of adults, and life expectancy at birth. Income has a weak nonlinear effect, negatively affecting literacy until a threshold level of per-capita income of about $2200 a year is reached and positively affecting literacy thereafter. Finally, African countries do not have a significantly higher literacy rate when controlling for other factors.


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