Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Europe, Northern America, Australia and New Zealand
SDG: Europe, Northern America, Australia and New Zealand: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 14.32 million in 2022. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Europe, Northern America, Australia and New Zealand, 2004–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Europe, Northern America, Australia and New Zealand is 14.32 million, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of up 0.4% on the previous year and down 6.8% over five years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Europe, Northern America, Australia and New Zealand peaked at 19.99 million in 2004 and was at its lowest, 14.27 million, in 2021.
That places SDG: Europe, Northern America, Australia and New Zealand 154th out of 203 groups with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Europe, Northern America, Australia and New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 19.99 million | — |
| 2005 | 19.62 million | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 19.15 million | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 15.38 million | -19.7% |
| 2020 | 15.23 million | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 14.27 million | -6.3% |
| 2022 | 14.32 million | +0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 19.58 million | 19.15 million | 19.99 million | 3 |
| 2010s | 15.38 million | 15.38 million | 15.38 million | 1 |
| 2020s | 14.61 million | 14.27 million | 15.23 million | 3 |
More education data for SDG: Europe, Northern America, Australia and New Zealand
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 0.2455 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 44.56 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.0633 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 47.13 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.0567 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 32.17 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual -1.04 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 54.01 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 0.6972 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) -0.1179 % change on previous year (2024)
All data for SDG: Europe, Northern America, Australia and New Zealand →
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Europe, Northern America, Australia and New Zealand?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Europe, Northern America, Australia and New Zealand was 14.32 million in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in SDG: Europe, Northern America, Australia and New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 19.99 million in 2004.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in SDG: Europe, Northern America, Australia and New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.27 million in 2021.
- How does SDG: Europe, Northern America, Australia and New Zealand rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- SDG: Europe, Northern America, Australia and New Zealand ranks 154th out of 203 groups with data for 2022.
- Where does this SDG: Europe, Northern America, Australia and New Zealand 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