Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa
MDG: Sub-saharan Africa: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 236.04 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
236.04 million
Change on year
up 2.2%
Rank
35th
of 203 groups
All-time high
236.04 million
in 2024
All-time low
134.26 million
in 1990
Years of data
36
1989–2024
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1989–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
MDG: Sub-saharan Africa recorded 236.04 million for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in 2024. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.2% on the previous year and up 16.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 236.04 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 134.26 million, in 1990.
MDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 35th of 203 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 136.01 million | — |
| 1990 | 134.26 million | -1.3% |
| 1991 | 137.14 million | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 139.53 million | +1.7% |
| 1993 | 141.59 million | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 143.71 million | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 147.13 million | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 149.00 million | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 149.73 million | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 151.38 million | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 152.72 million | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 161.28 million | +5.6% |
| 2001 | 162.96 million | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 164.92 million | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 167.56 million | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 169.55 million | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 175.90 million | +3.7% |
| 2006 | 184.92 million | +5.1% |
| 2007 | 191.11 million | +3.3% |
| 2008 | 195.05 million | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 198.56 million | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 201.05 million | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 198.48 million | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 197.92 million | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 199.84 million | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 202.06 million | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 204.66 million | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 207.28 million | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 211.29 million | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 206.22 million | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 208.89 million | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 214.34 million | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 221.44 million | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 226.01 million | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 230.86 million | +2.1% |
| 2024 | 236.04 million | +2.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 136.01 million | 136.01 million | 136.01 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 144.62 million | 134.26 million | 152.72 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 177.18 million | 161.28 million | 198.56 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 203.77 million | 197.92 million | 211.29 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 225.74 million | 214.34 million | 236.04 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near MDG: Sub-saharan Africa
- 32 Lao People's Democratic Republic 688,200 compare
- 33 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 635,106 compare
- 34 Saudi Arabia 539,462 compare
- 35 Chile 529,430 compare
- 36 Ecuador 487,709 compare
- 37 El Salvador 483,465 compare
- 38 Dominican Republic 476,215 compare
More education data for MDG: Sub-saharan Africa
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 5.90 million (2021)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 39.14 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.62 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 42.42 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.27 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 26.38 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 1.59 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 3.52 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 3.88 % change on previous year (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.60 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa was 236.04 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 236.04 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 134.26 million in 1990.
- How does MDG: Sub-saharan Africa rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- MDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 35th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this MDG: Sub-saharan 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