Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in GPE: Low Income Wb Fy24, December 2024
GPE: Low Income Wb Fy24, December 2024: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 158.73 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
158.73 million
Change on year
up 2.3%
Rank
56th
of 203 groups
All-time high
158.73 million
in 2024
All-time low
81.98 million
in 1990
Years of data
36
1989–2024
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in GPE: Low Income Wb Fy24, December 2024, 1989–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in GPE: Low Income Wb Fy24, December 2024 stood at 158.73 million. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.3% on the previous year and up 22.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in GPE: Low Income Wb Fy24, December 2024 peaked at 158.73 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 81.98 million, in 1990.
GPE: Low Income Wb Fy24, December 2024 ranks 56th of 203 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in GPE: Low Income Wb Fy24, December 2024, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 82.65 million | — |
| 1990 | 81.98 million | -0.8% |
| 1991 | 83.53 million | +1.9% |
| 1992 | 85.59 million | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 87.77 million | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 89.75 million | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 92.37 million | +2.9% |
| 1996 | 94.25 million | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 95.14 million | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 96.16 million | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 97.85 million | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 99.78 million | +2.0% |
| 2001 | 101.07 million | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 102.70 million | +1.6% |
| 2003 | 105.07 million | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 107.29 million | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 109.64 million | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 117.82 million | +7.5% |
| 2007 | 118.61 million | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 120.16 million | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 122.59 million | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 125.12 million | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 122.67 million | -2.0% |
| 2012 | 125.17 million | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 126.91 million | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 129.17 million | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 131.15 million | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 133.17 million | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 133.88 million | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 137.12 million | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 141.81 million | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 146.08 million | +3.0% |
| 2021 | 149.20 million | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 152.07 million | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 155.17 million | +2.0% |
| 2024 | 158.73 million | +2.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 82.65 million | 82.65 million | 82.65 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 90.44 million | 81.98 million | 97.85 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 110.47 million | 99.78 million | 122.59 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 130.62 million | 122.67 million | 141.81 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 152.25 million | 146.08 million | 158.73 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near GPE: Low Income Wb Fy24, December 2024
More education data for GPE: Low Income Wb Fy24, December 2024
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.42 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 21.16 million (2022)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 3.39 % change on previous year (2022)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 17.08 million (2022)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.9721 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.66 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.9768 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.11 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 56.72 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 2.69 % change on previous year (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in GPE: Low Income Wb Fy24, December 2024?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in GPE: Low Income Wb Fy24, December 2024 was 158.73 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in GPE: Low Income Wb Fy24, December 2024?
- The highest recorded value was 158.73 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in GPE: Low Income Wb Fy24, December 2024?
- The lowest recorded value was 81.98 million in 1990.
- How does GPE: Low Income Wb Fy24, December 2024 rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- GPE: Low Income Wb Fy24, December 2024 ranks 56th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in GPE: Low Income Wb Fy24, December 2024?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this GPE: Low Income Wb Fy24, December 2024 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