Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in El Salvador
El Salvador: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 483,465 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in El Salvador, 1992–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in El Salvador stood at 483,465.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.9% on the previous year and down 14.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in El Salvador peaked at 834,899 in 1992 and was at its lowest, 456,814, in 2020.
El Salvador ranks 37th of 59 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 16 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in El Salvador, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 834,899 | — |
| 2006 | 642,341 | -23.1% |
| 2007 | 708,695 | +10.3% |
| 2008 | 640,072 | -9.7% |
| 2009 | 642,398 | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 634,864 | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 603,099 | -5.0% |
| 2013 | 565,459 | -6.2% |
| 2015 | 528,579 | -6.5% |
| 2016 | 525,993 | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 516,216 | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 496,884 | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 493,525 | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 456,814 | -7.4% |
| 2023 | 474,515 | +3.9% |
| 2024 | 483,465 | +1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 834,899 | 834,899 | 834,899 | 1 |
| 2000s | 658,376 | 640,072 | 708,695 | 4 |
| 2010s | 545,577 | 493,525 | 634,864 | 8 |
| 2020s | 471,598 | 456,814 | 483,465 | 3 |
Countries ranked near El Salvador
- 34 Saudi Arabia 539,462 compare
- 35 Chile 529,430 compare
- 36 Ecuador 487,709 compare
- 38 Dominican Republic 476,215 compare
- 39 Jordan 453,607 compare
- 40 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 377,930 compare
More education data for El Salvador
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 17,715 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 21,853 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 100,826 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 100,758 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 417,193 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 594,860 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -2.27 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0939 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in El Salvador?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in El Salvador was 483,465 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 834,899 in 1992.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 456,814 in 2020.
- How does El Salvador rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- El Salvador ranks 37th out of 59 countries with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this El Salvador 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