Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Mozambique
Mozambique: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 6.68 million in 2020. ▲ Rising
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Mozambique, 1997–2020
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Mozambique is 6.68 million, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.
The figure is up 12.5% on the previous year and up 12.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Mozambique peaked at 6.68 million in 2020 and was at its lowest, 5.42 million, in 2003.
That places Mozambique 11th out of 59 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Mozambique, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 5.64 million | — |
| 2003 | 5.42 million | -3.8% |
| 2009 | 5.92 million | +9.1% |
| 2015 | 6.25 million | +5.6% |
| 2017 | 5.93 million | -5.0% |
| 2020 | 6.68 million | +12.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.64 million | 5.64 million | 5.64 million | 1 |
| 2000s | 5.67 million | 5.42 million | 5.92 million | 2 |
| 2010s | 6.09 million | 5.93 million | 6.25 million | 2 |
| 2020s | 6.68 million | 6.68 million | 6.68 million | 1 |
Countries ranked near Mozambique
More education data for Mozambique
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 33,281 (2017)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 278,480 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 24,278 (1986)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 20,822 (1986)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.07 million (2017)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 7.66 million (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 4.4 % change on previous year (2020)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.2344 units per person (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Mozambique?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Mozambique was 6.68 million in 2020, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Mozambique?
- The highest recorded value was 6.68 million in 2020.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Mozambique?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.42 million in 2003.
- How does Mozambique rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- Mozambique ranks 11th out of 59 countries with data for 2020.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Mozambique?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Mozambique 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release