Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Egypt
Egypt: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 19.60 million in 2017. ▬ Flat
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Egypt, 1996–2017
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Egypt is 19.60 million, measured in 2017. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.
The figure is up 8.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Egypt peaked at 19.60 million in 2017 and was at its lowest, 15.99 million, in 2012.
Egypt ranks 4th of 59 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Egypt, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 18.00 million | — |
| 2005 | 17.23 million | -4.3% |
| 2006 | 18.12 million | +5.1% |
| 2010 | 16.40 million | -9.5% |
| 2012 | 15.99 million | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 17.28 million | +8.1% |
| 2017 | 19.60 million | +13.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 18.00 million | 18.00 million | 18.00 million | 1 |
| 2000s | 17.67 million | 17.23 million | 18.12 million | 2 |
| 2010s | 17.32 million | 15.99 million | 19.60 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Egypt
More education data for Egypt
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 507,445 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 95,355 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 759,210 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 718,435 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 11.56 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 15.40 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.23 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1322 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Egypt?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Egypt was 19.60 million in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Egypt?
- The highest recorded value was 19.60 million in 2017.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Egypt?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.99 million in 2012.
- How does Egypt rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- Egypt ranks 4th out of 59 countries with data for 2017.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Egypt?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Egypt 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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CSV · JSON — 7 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release