Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in GPE: Sub-saharan Africa Wb Fy24, December 2024
GPE: Sub-saharan Africa Wb Fy24, December 2024: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 230.85 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in GPE: Sub-saharan Africa Wb Fy24, December 2024, 1989–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in GPE: Sub-saharan Africa Wb Fy24, December 2024 is 230.85 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.4% on the previous year and up 16.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in GPE: Sub-saharan Africa Wb Fy24, December 2024 peaked at 230.85 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 128.69 million, in 1990.
GPE: Sub-saharan Africa Wb Fy24, December 2024 ranks 42nd of 203 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in GPE: Sub-saharan Africa Wb Fy24, December 2024, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 130.29 million | — |
| 1990 | 128.69 million | -1.2% |
| 1991 | 130.94 million | +1.7% |
| 1992 | 133.41 million | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 135.58 million | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 137.66 million | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 141.29 million | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 143.26 million | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 144.16 million | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 145.92 million | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 147.34 million | +1.0% |
| 2000 | 155.97 million | +5.9% |
| 2001 | 157.75 million | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 159.78 million | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 162.51 million | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 165.09 million | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 171.54 million | +3.9% |
| 2006 | 180.51 million | +5.2% |
| 2007 | 186.73 million | +3.4% |
| 2008 | 190.79 million | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 195.15 million | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 197.72 million | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 195.22 million | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 194.87 million | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 196.85 million | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 199.08 million | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 201.73 million | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 204.40 million | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 205.15 million | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 200.13 million | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 205.98 million | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 211.37 million | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 215.95 million | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 220.58 million | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 225.49 million | +2.2% |
| 2024 | 230.85 million | +2.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 130.29 million | 130.29 million | 130.29 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 138.82 million | 128.69 million | 147.34 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 172.58 million | 155.97 million | 195.15 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 200.11 million | 194.87 million | 205.98 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 220.85 million | 211.37 million | 230.85 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near GPE: Sub-saharan Africa Wb Fy24, December 2024
More education data for GPE: Sub-saharan Africa Wb Fy24, December 2024
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 1.49 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.34 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 4.79 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.8454 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 35.82 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.54 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 39.26 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.16 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 25.27 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 5.38 million (2021)
All data for GPE: Sub-saharan Africa Wb Fy24, December 2024 →
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in GPE: Sub-saharan Africa Wb Fy24, December 2024?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in GPE: Sub-saharan Africa Wb Fy24, December 2024 was 230.85 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in GPE: Sub-saharan Africa Wb Fy24, December 2024?
- The highest recorded value was 230.85 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in GPE: Sub-saharan Africa Wb Fy24, December 2024?
- The lowest recorded value was 128.69 million in 1990.
- How does GPE: Sub-saharan Africa Wb Fy24, December 2024 rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- GPE: Sub-saharan Africa Wb Fy24, December 2024 ranks 42nd out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in GPE: Sub-saharan Africa Wb Fy24, December 2024?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this GPE: Sub-saharan Africa 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