Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Latin America
MDG: Latin America: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 21.61 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Latin America, 2003–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Latin America stood at 21.61 million. That is the lowest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is down 2.6% on the previous year and down 18.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Latin America peaked at 35.40 million in 2003 and was at its lowest, 21.61 million, in 2024.
MDG: Latin America ranks 140th of 203 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Latin America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 35.40 million | — |
| 2004 | 34.78 million | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 35.34 million | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 34.23 million | -3.1% |
| 2007 | 31.28 million | -8.6% |
| 2008 | 30.46 million | -2.6% |
| 2009 | 30.10 million | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 30.89 million | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 28.32 million | -8.3% |
| 2012 | 27.36 million | -3.4% |
| 2013 | 28.01 million | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 26.35 million | -5.9% |
| 2015 | 26.20 million | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 24.75 million | -5.5% |
| 2017 | 24.99 million | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 24.45 million | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 23.96 million | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 24.00 million | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 23.41 million | -2.4% |
| 2022 | 22.66 million | -3.2% |
| 2023 | 22.19 million | -2.1% |
| 2024 | 21.61 million | -2.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 33.09 million | 30.10 million | 35.40 million | 7 |
| 2010s | 26.53 million | 23.96 million | 30.89 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.77 million | 21.61 million | 24.00 million | 5 |
More education data for MDG: Latin America
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 19.46 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 60.47 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 650,773 (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.6143 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.37 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) -2.64 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 29.96 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual -2.04 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 3.26 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 30.47 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Latin America?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Latin America was 21.61 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in MDG: Latin America?
- The highest recorded value was 35.40 million in 2003.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in MDG: Latin America?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.61 million in 2024.
- How does MDG: Latin America rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- MDG: Latin America ranks 140th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in MDG: Latin America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this MDG: Latin America 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