Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Iran, Islamic Republic of
Iran, Islamic Republic of: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 9.11 million in 2016. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Iran, Islamic Republic of, 1991–2016
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2016, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Iran, Islamic Republic of stood at 9.11 million.
The figure is down 3.3% on the previous year and down 4.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Iran, Islamic Republic of peaked at 11.45 million in 1991 and was at its lowest, 9.10 million, in 2005.
Iran, Islamic Republic of ranks 6th of 59 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Iran, Islamic Republic of, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 11.45 million | — |
| 1996 | 9.83 million | -14.1% |
| 2002 | 10.79 million | +9.7% |
| 2005 | 9.10 million | -15.7% |
| 2006 | 9.52 million | +4.6% |
| 2008 | 9.64 million | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 9.78 million | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 9.84 million | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 9.36 million | -4.9% |
| 2014 | 9.42 million | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 9.11 million | -3.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10.64 million | 9.83 million | 11.45 million | 2 |
| 2000s | 9.76 million | 9.10 million | 10.79 million | 4 |
| 2010s | 9.50 million | 9.11 million | 9.84 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iran, Islamic Republic of
More education data for Iran, Islamic Republic of
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 406,399 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 108,066 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 519,698 (2020)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 505,053 (2020)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.62 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 9.09 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 3.31 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1003 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Iran, Islamic Republic of was 9.11 million in 2016, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- The highest recorded value was 11.45 million in 1991.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.10 million in 2005.
- How does Iran, Islamic Republic of rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- Iran, Islamic Republic of ranks 6th out of 59 countries with data for 2016.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iran, Islamic Republic of 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