Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Iraq
Iraq: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 3.40 million in 2017. ▬ Flat
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Iraq, 2000–2017
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2017, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Iraq stood at 3.40 million. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 10.6% on the previous year and down 22.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Iraq peaked at 4.39 million in 2012 and was at its lowest, 3.40 million, in 2017.
That places Iraq 18th out of 59 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the middle of the range.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Iraq, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3.54 million | — |
| 2012 | 4.39 million | +24.2% |
| 2014 | 3.81 million | -13.3% |
| 2016 | 3.80 million | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 3.40 million | -10.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.54 million | 3.54 million | 3.54 million | 1 |
| 2010s | 3.85 million | 3.40 million | 4.39 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More education data for Iraq
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 148,363 (2007)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 818,729 (2007)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 55,944 (2007)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 52,985 (2007)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.04 million (2007)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.86 million (2007)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.26 % change on previous year (2004)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2007)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1713 units per person (2007)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Iraq?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Iraq was 3.40 million in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 4.39 million in 2012.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.40 million in 2017.
- How does Iraq rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- Iraq ranks 18th out of 59 countries with data for 2017.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Iraq 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 5 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release