Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in GPE: Region 2
GPE: Region 2: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 130.65 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
130.65 million
Change on year
up 2.5%
Rank
64th
of 203 groups
All-time high
130.65 million
in 2024
All-time low
74.26 million
in 1990
Years of data
36
1989–2024
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in GPE: Region 2, 1989–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
GPE: Region 2 recorded 130.65 million for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in 2024. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 2.5% on the previous year and up 13.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in GPE: Region 2 peaked at 130.65 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 74.26 million, in 1990.
GPE: Region 2 ranks 64th 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: Region 2, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 75.22 million | — |
| 1990 | 74.26 million | -1.3% |
| 1991 | 75.29 million | +1.4% |
| 1992 | 76.46 million | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 77.73 million | +1.7% |
| 1994 | 78.51 million | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 81.08 million | +3.3% |
| 1996 | 82.09 million | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 82.22 million | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 82.32 million | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 83.45 million | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 91.08 million | +9.1% |
| 2001 | 91.81 million | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 93.16 million | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 94.78 million | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 95.12 million | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 97.59 million | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 101.87 million | +4.4% |
| 2007 | 108.18 million | +6.2% |
| 2008 | 110.13 million | +1.8% |
| 2009 | 113.00 million | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 115.11 million | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 111.48 million | -3.2% |
| 2012 | 113.35 million | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 113.90 million | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 115.37 million | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 116.40 million | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 118.35 million | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 118.94 million | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 113.45 million | -4.6% |
| 2019 | 117.01 million | +3.1% |
| 2020 | 119.73 million | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 122.25 million | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 124.73 million | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 127.41 million | +2.1% |
| 2024 | 130.65 million | +2.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 75.22 million | 75.22 million | 75.22 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 79.34 million | 74.26 million | 83.45 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 99.67 million | 91.08 million | 113.00 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 115.34 million | 111.48 million | 118.94 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 124.96 million | 119.73 million | 130.65 million | 5 |
More education data for GPE: Region 2
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 5.5 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 21.33 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.8825 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 23.72 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.5225 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 8.58 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 0.9266 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 5.51 million (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 2.30 million (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 6.41 % change on previous year (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in GPE: Region 2?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in GPE: Region 2 was 130.65 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in GPE: Region 2?
- The highest recorded value was 130.65 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in GPE: Region 2?
- The lowest recorded value was 74.26 million in 1990.
- How does GPE: Region 2 rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- GPE: Region 2 ranks 64th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in GPE: Region 2?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this GPE: Region 2 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