Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in GPE: Region 1
GPE: Region 1: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 120.33 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
120.33 million
Change on year
up 1.6%
Rank
67th
of 203 groups
All-time high
120.33 million
in 2024
All-time low
73.85 million
in 1990
Years of data
36
1989–2024
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in GPE: Region 1, 1989–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in GPE: Region 1 stood at 120.33 million. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.6% on the previous year and up 19.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in GPE: Region 1 peaked at 120.33 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 73.85 million, in 1990.
That places GPE: Region 1 67th out of 203 groups with data for 2024, putting it 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: Region 1, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 74.95 million | — |
| 1990 | 73.85 million | -1.5% |
| 1991 | 75.28 million | +1.9% |
| 1992 | 76.62 million | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 77.92 million | +1.7% |
| 1994 | 79.33 million | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 80.42 million | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 81.39 million | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 82.18 million | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 83.83 million | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 84.15 million | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 85.21 million | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 86.29 million | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 87.00 million | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 84.44 million | -2.9% |
| 2004 | 86.69 million | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 90.65 million | +4.6% |
| 2006 | 98.78 million | +9.0% |
| 2007 | 98.51 million | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 100.38 million | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 100.81 million | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 101.19 million | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 102.17 million | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 99.80 million | -2.3% |
| 2013 | 100.13 million | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 100.85 million | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 102.27 million | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 107.97 million | +5.6% |
| 2017 | 107.92 million | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 108.26 million | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 110.36 million | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 112.83 million | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 114.60 million | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 116.40 million | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 118.40 million | +1.7% |
| 2024 | 120.33 million | +1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 74.95 million | 74.95 million | 74.95 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 79.50 million | 73.85 million | 84.15 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 91.88 million | 84.44 million | 100.81 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 104.09 million | 99.80 million | 110.36 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 116.51 million | 112.83 million | 120.33 million | 5 |
More education data for GPE: Region 1
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 3.46 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 19.43 million (2022)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 3.48 % change on previous year (2022)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 20.92 million (2022)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 3.29 % change on previous year (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 18.43 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 2.11 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 8.31 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 4.47 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 4.51 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in GPE: Region 1?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in GPE: Region 1 was 120.33 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in GPE: Region 1?
- The highest recorded value was 120.33 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in GPE: Region 1?
- The lowest recorded value was 73.85 million in 1990.
- How does GPE: Region 1 rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- GPE: Region 1 ranks 67th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in GPE: Region 1?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this GPE: Region 1 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