Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: World
MDG: World: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 739.14 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: World, 1993–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: World is 739.14 million, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 32 years on record.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 3.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: World peaked at 947.96 million in 1993 and was at its lowest, 739.14 million, in 2024.
That places MDG: World 3rd out of 203 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 32 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: World, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 947.96 million | — |
| 1994 | 939.20 million | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 930.80 million | -0.9% |
| 1996 | 923.00 million | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 850.28 million | -7.9% |
| 1998 | 809.13 million | -4.8% |
| 1999 | 801.99 million | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 801.85 million | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 805.20 million | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 803.40 million | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 795.88 million | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 794.29 million | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 807.30 million | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 823.23 million | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 808.34 million | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 803.40 million | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 799.41 million | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 782.68 million | -2.1% |
| 2011 | 778.88 million | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 779.23 million | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 774.91 million | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 766.68 million | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 755.76 million | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 748.60 million | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 748.12 million | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 741.03 million | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 749.25 million | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 747.73 million | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 746.17 million | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 742.01 million | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 740.54 million | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 739.14 million | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 886.05 million | 801.99 million | 947.96 million | 7 |
| 2000s | 804.23 million | 794.29 million | 823.23 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 762.51 million | 741.03 million | 782.68 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 743.12 million | 739.14 million | 747.73 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near MDG: World
More education data for MDG: World
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 34.10 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.4213 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 337.02 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.7457 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 314.66 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 1.22 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 651.68 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.66 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.21 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 206.57 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: World?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: World was 739.14 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in MDG: World?
- The highest recorded value was 947.96 million in 1993.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in MDG: World?
- The lowest recorded value was 739.14 million in 2024.
- How does MDG: World rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- MDG: World ranks 3rd out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in MDG: World?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this MDG: World 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