Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Northern Africa
MDG: Northern Africa: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 34.60 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
34.60 million
Change on year
down 0.5%
Rank
117th
of 203 groups
All-time high
37.08 million
in 2000
All-time low
30.85 million
in 2013
Years of data
36
1989–2024
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Northern Africa, 1989–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Northern Africa stood at 34.60 million.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and up 7.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Northern Africa peaked at 37.08 million in 2000 and was at its lowest, 30.85 million, in 2013.
That places MDG: Northern Africa 117th out of 203 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Northern Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 36.30 million | — |
| 1990 | 35.46 million | -2.3% |
| 1991 | 35.63 million | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 35.76 million | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 36.27 million | +1.4% |
| 1994 | 36.48 million | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 36.63 million | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 36.75 million | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 36.84 million | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 36.86 million | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 36.96 million | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 37.08 million | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 36.88 million | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 36.90 million | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 33.23 million | -9.9% |
| 2004 | 33.20 million | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 33.39 million | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 36.80 million | +10.2% |
| 2007 | 36.83 million | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 36.43 million | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 35.32 million | -3.0% |
| 2010 | 35.13 million | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 33.06 million | -5.9% |
| 2012 | 32.09 million | -2.9% |
| 2013 | 30.85 million | -3.9% |
| 2014 | 32.24 million | +4.5% |
| 2015 | 31.88 million | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 36.70 million | +15.1% |
| 2017 | 36.33 million | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 36.04 million | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 35.84 million | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 35.64 million | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 35.34 million | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 34.99 million | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 34.77 million | -0.6% |
| 2024 | 34.60 million | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 36.30 million | 36.30 million | 36.30 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 36.36 million | 35.46 million | 36.96 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 35.60 million | 33.20 million | 37.08 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 34.02 million | 30.85 million | 36.70 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.07 million | 34.60 million | 35.64 million | 5 |
More education data for MDG: Northern Africa
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.09 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 11.37 million (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 697,877 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 5.59 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.09 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 4.53 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 23.16 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.66 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 13.43 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.42 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Northern Africa?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Northern Africa was 34.60 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in MDG: Northern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 37.08 million in 2000.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in MDG: Northern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.85 million in 2013.
- How does MDG: Northern Africa rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- MDG: Northern Africa ranks 117th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in MDG: Northern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this MDG: Northern Africa 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