Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126)
ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126): Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 235.12 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
235.12 million
Change on year
up 2.2%
Rank
40th
of 203 groups
All-time high
235.12 million
in 2024
All-time low
133.72 million
in 1990
Years of data
36
1989–2024
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126), 1989–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126) stood at 235.12 million. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.2% on the previous year and up 16.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126) peaked at 235.12 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 133.72 million, in 1990.
ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126) ranks 40th of 203 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 135.47 million | — |
| 1990 | 133.72 million | -1.3% |
| 1991 | 136.58 million | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 138.96 million | +1.7% |
| 1993 | 140.98 million | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 143.07 million | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 146.47 million | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 148.34 million | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 149.07 million | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 150.71 million | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 152.04 million | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 160.59 million | +5.6% |
| 2001 | 162.26 million | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 164.20 million | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 166.84 million | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 168.83 million | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 175.02 million | +3.7% |
| 2006 | 184.04 million | +5.2% |
| 2007 | 190.21 million | +3.4% |
| 2008 | 194.14 million | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 197.62 million | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 200.09 million | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 197.50 million | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 197.15 million | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 199.06 million | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 201.27 million | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 203.87 million | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 206.47 million | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 210.47 million | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 205.39 million | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 208.05 million | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 213.48 million | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 220.58 million | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 225.13 million | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 229.96 million | +2.1% |
| 2024 | 235.12 million | +2.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 135.47 million | 135.47 million | 135.47 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 143.99 million | 133.72 million | 152.04 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 176.37 million | 160.59 million | 197.62 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 202.93 million | 197.15 million | 210.47 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 224.86 million | 213.48 million | 235.12 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126)
- 37 El Salvador 483,465 compare
- 38 Dominican Republic 476,215 compare
- 39 Jordan 453,607 compare
- 40 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 377,930 compare
- 41 Timor-Leste 270,094 compare
- 42 Paraguay 252,998 compare
- 43 Panama 130,592 compare
More education data for ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 5.89 million (2021)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 38.99 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.61 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 42.27 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.26 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 26.34 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 1.59 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 3.52 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 3.88 % change on previous year (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.59 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126)?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126) was 235.12 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126)?
- The highest recorded value was 235.12 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126)?
- The lowest recorded value was 133.72 million in 1990.
- How does ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126) rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126) ranks 40th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this ECA: Sub-saharan Africa (unsdcode:98126) 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