Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Europe and Northern America
SDG: Europe and Northern America: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 11.22 million in 2022. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Europe and Northern America, 2003–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
SDG: Europe and Northern America recorded 11.22 million for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and down 10.8% over five years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Europe and Northern America peaked at 17.83 million in 2003 and was at its lowest, 11.19 million, in 2021.
That places SDG: Europe and Northern America 157th out of 203 groups with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Europe and Northern America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 17.83 million | — |
| 2004 | 17.44 million | -2.2% |
| 2005 | 17.08 million | -2.1% |
| 2006 | 16.61 million | -2.7% |
| 2018 | 12.57 million | -24.3% |
| 2019 | 12.35 million | -1.7% |
| 2020 | 12.17 million | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 11.19 million | -8.0% |
| 2022 | 11.22 million | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 17.24 million | 16.61 million | 17.83 million | 4 |
| 2010s | 12.46 million | 12.35 million | 12.57 million | 2 |
| 2020s | 11.53 million | 11.19 million | 12.17 million | 3 |
More education data for SDG: Europe and Northern America
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 43.04 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 31.47 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.059 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 45.47 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.0656 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 4.83 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate -0.3241 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.0622 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual -1.06 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate -0.1479 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Europe and Northern America?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Europe and Northern America was 11.22 million in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in SDG: Europe and Northern America?
- The highest recorded value was 17.83 million in 2003.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in SDG: Europe and Northern America?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.19 million in 2021.
- How does SDG: Europe and Northern America rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- SDG: Europe and Northern America ranks 157th out of 203 groups with data for 2022.
- Where does this SDG: Europe and Northern 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