Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ALECSO: Gulf Countries
ALECSO: Gulf Countries: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 851,215 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ALECSO: Gulf Countries, 2009–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
ALECSO: Gulf Countries recorded 851,215 for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in 2023.
That represents a change of up 1.2% on the previous year and down 55.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ALECSO: Gulf Countries peaked at 3.45 million in 2009 and was at its lowest, 840,739, in 2022.
That places ALECSO: Gulf Countries 185th out of 203 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ALECSO: Gulf Countries, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 3.45 million | — |
| 2010 | 3.24 million | -6.2% |
| 2011 | 2.07 million | -36.2% |
| 2012 | 2.00 million | -3.3% |
| 2013 | 1.93 million | -3.4% |
| 2014 | 1.80 million | -7.0% |
| 2015 | 1.47 million | -18.0% |
| 2016 | 1.48 million | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 1.42 million | -3.9% |
| 2018 | 1.40 million | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 1.34 million | -4.4% |
| 2020 | 1.04 million | -22.5% |
| 2021 | 886,906 | -14.5% |
| 2022 | 840,739 | -5.2% |
| 2023 | 851,215 | +1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.45 million | 3.45 million | 3.45 million | 1 |
| 2010s | 1.81 million | 1.34 million | 3.24 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 903,925 | 840,739 | 1.04 million | 4 |
More education data for ALECSO: Gulf Countries
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 21.94 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.68 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.5138 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.80 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.19 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 895,823 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual -6.93 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 2.74 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 1.39 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 18.25 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ALECSO: Gulf Countries?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ALECSO: Gulf Countries was 851,215 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in ALECSO: Gulf Countries?
- The highest recorded value was 3.45 million in 2009.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in ALECSO: Gulf Countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 840,739 in 2022.
- How does ALECSO: Gulf Countries rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- ALECSO: Gulf Countries ranks 185th out of 203 groups with data for 2023.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in ALECSO: Gulf Countries?
- Over the last ten years it is down 55.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this ALECSO: Gulf Countries data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release