Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ESCWA: Arab Countries In-conflict (unsdcode:98506)

ESCWA: Arab Countries In-conflict (unsdcode:98506): Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 28.77 million in 2019. ▲ Rising

Latest (2019)
28.77 million
Change on year
up 3.0%
Rank
123rd
of 203 groups
All-time high
28.77 million
in 2019
All-time low
18.38 million
in 1990
Years of data
30
1990–2019

Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ESCWA: Arab Countries In-conflict (unsdcode:98506), 1990–2019

010.0M20.0M30.0M1990200420191990: 18.4M1991: 18.5M1992: 18.5M1993: 18.7M1994: 19.3M1995: 19.7M1996: 19.9M1997: 19.9M1998: 20.1M1999: 20.2M2000: 20.4M2001: 20.5M2002: 20.6M2003: 20.8M2004: 20.8M2005: 21.1M2006: 24.3M2007: 24.6M2008: 25.1M2009: 25.6M2010: 26.1M2011: 26.7M2012: 27.0M2013: 27.1M2014: 27.0M2015: 27.0M2016: 27.0M2017: 27.2M2018: 27.9M2019: 28.8M

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ESCWA: Arab Countries In-conflict (unsdcode:98506) is 28.77 million, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 30 years on record.

The figure is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 12.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ESCWA: Arab Countries In-conflict (unsdcode:98506) peaked at 28.77 million in 2019 and was at its lowest, 18.38 million, in 1990.

That places ESCWA: Arab Countries In-conflict (unsdcode:98506) 123rd out of 203 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 30 years of available data.

Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ESCWA: Arab Countries In-conflict (unsdcode:98506), year by year

Annual values for Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes (number) in ESCWA: Arab Countries In-conflict (unsdcode:98506), 1990 to 2019.
Year Value Change
1990 18.38 million
1991 18.48 million +0.6%
1992 18.52 million +0.2%
1993 18.74 million +1.2%
1994 19.30 million +3.0%
1995 19.69 million +2.0%
1996 19.86 million +0.9%
1997 19.93 million +0.4%
1998 20.08 million +0.7%
1999 20.23 million +0.7%
2000 20.39 million +0.8%
2001 20.54 million +0.7%
2002 20.64 million +0.5%
2003 20.77 million +0.6%
2004 20.85 million +0.4%
2005 21.14 million +1.4%
2006 24.29 million +14.9%
2007 24.62 million +1.4%
2008 25.08 million +1.9%
2009 25.58 million +2.0%
2010 26.10 million +2.0%
2011 26.68 million +2.2%
2012 27.05 million +1.4%
2013 27.08 million +0.1%
2014 26.99 million -0.3%
2015 26.98 million -0.0%
2016 27.04 million +0.2%
2017 27.19 million +0.6%
2018 27.92 million +2.7%
2019 28.77 million +3.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 19.32 million 18.38 million 20.23 million 10
2000s 22.39 million 20.39 million 25.58 million 10
2010s 27.18 million 26.10 million 28.77 million 10

More education data for ESCWA: Arab Countries In-conflict (unsdcode:98506)

All data for ESCWA: Arab Countries In-conflict (unsdcode:98506) →

Frequently asked questions

What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ESCWA: Arab Countries In-conflict (unsdcode:98506)?
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ESCWA: Arab Countries In-conflict (unsdcode:98506) was 28.77 million in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in ESCWA: Arab Countries In-conflict (unsdcode:98506)?
The highest recorded value was 28.77 million in 2019.
What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in ESCWA: Arab Countries In-conflict (unsdcode:98506)?
The lowest recorded value was 18.38 million in 1990.
How does ESCWA: Arab Countries In-conflict (unsdcode:98506) rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
ESCWA: Arab Countries In-conflict (unsdcode:98506) ranks 123rd out of 203 groups with data for 2019.
Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in ESCWA: Arab Countries In-conflict (unsdcode:98506)?
Over the last ten years it is up 12.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this ESCWA: Arab Countries In-conflict (unsdcode:98506) 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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Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ESCWA: Arab Countries In-conflict (unsdcode:98506). Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/adult-illiterate-population-15-years-both-sexes-number-2/escwa-arab-countries-in-conflict-unsdcode-98506/

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About this data

Indicator
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
262 places, 6,930 data points, 1989–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release