Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Developing Regions
MDG: Developing Regions: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 717.72 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
717.72 million
Change on year
down 0.2%
Rank
6th
of 203 groups
All-time high
921.64 million
in 1990
All-time low
717.05 million
in 2018
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Developing Regions, 1990–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Developing Regions is 717.72 million, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Developing Regions peaked at 921.64 million in 1990 and was at its lowest, 717.05 million, in 2018.
MDG: Developing Regions ranks 6th of 203 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Developing Regions, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 921.64 million | — |
| 1991 | 916.28 million | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 908.56 million | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 900.93 million | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 893.60 million | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 886.62 million | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 880.09 million | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 809.00 million | -8.1% |
| 1998 | 769.01 million | -4.9% |
| 1999 | 763.19 million | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 763.60 million | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 767.69 million | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 767.32 million | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 760.98 million | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 760.45 million | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 774.43 million | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 791.21 million | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 777.41 million | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 773.57 million | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 770.29 million | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 752.74 million | -2.3% |
| 2011 | 749.46 million | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 750.60 million | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 746.54 million | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 740.28 million | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 729.84 million | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 723.16 million | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 723.33 million | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 717.05 million | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 725.70 million | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 724.65 million | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 724.26 million | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 720.27 million | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 718.89 million | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 717.72 million | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 864.89 million | 763.19 million | 921.64 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 770.70 million | 760.45 million | 791.21 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 735.87 million | 717.05 million | 752.74 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 721.16 million | 717.72 million | 724.65 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near MDG: Developing Regions
- 3 Bangladesh 25.25 million compare
- 4 Egypt 19.60 million compare
- 5 Brazil 11.07 million compare
- 6 Iran, Islamic Republic of 9.11 million compare
- 7 Morocco 8.66 million compare
- 8 Indonesia 8.11 million compare
- 9 Burkina Faso 8.02 million compare
More education data for MDG: Developing Regions
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 18.90 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.8747 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 286.02 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 171.20 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual -0.1202 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 210.26 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 1.69 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 1.83 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 103.13 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Developing Regions?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Developing Regions was 717.72 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in MDG: Developing Regions?
- The highest recorded value was 921.64 million in 1990.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in MDG: Developing Regions?
- The lowest recorded value was 717.05 million in 2018.
- How does MDG: Developing Regions rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- MDG: Developing Regions ranks 6th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in MDG: Developing Regions?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this MDG: Developing Regions 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