Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Least Developed Countries
SDG: Least Developed Countries: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 227.39 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
227.39 million
Change on year
up 1.6%
Rank
43rd
of 203 groups
All-time high
227.39 million
in 2024
All-time low
157.86 million
in 1990
Years of data
36
1989–2024
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Least Developed Countries, 1989–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Least Developed Countries stood at 227.39 million. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 6.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Least Developed Countries peaked at 227.39 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 157.86 million, in 1990.
That places SDG: Least Developed Countries 43rd out of 203 groups with data for 2024, putting it 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 SDG: Least Developed Countries, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 159.39 million | — |
| 1990 | 157.86 million | -1.0% |
| 1991 | 160.67 million | +1.8% |
| 1992 | 163.86 million | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 167.24 million | +2.1% |
| 1994 | 169.54 million | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 172.35 million | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 175.27 million | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 177.10 million | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 175.95 million | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 177.69 million | +1.0% |
| 2000 | 180.27 million | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 182.24 million | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 184.16 million | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 186.59 million | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 188.95 million | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 192.22 million | +1.7% |
| 2006 | 208.65 million | +8.5% |
| 2007 | 209.80 million | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 213.69 million | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 216.48 million | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 210.10 million | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 207.31 million | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 216.17 million | +4.3% |
| 2013 | 212.24 million | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 214.12 million | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 209.24 million | -2.3% |
| 2016 | 204.27 million | -2.4% |
| 2017 | 204.84 million | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 207.69 million | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 211.78 million | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 216.20 million | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 218.44 million | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 220.67 million | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 223.75 million | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 227.39 million | +1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 159.39 million | 159.39 million | 159.39 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 169.75 million | 157.86 million | 177.69 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 196.30 million | 180.27 million | 216.48 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 209.78 million | 204.27 million | 216.17 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 221.29 million | 216.20 million | 227.39 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near SDG: Least Developed Countries
- 40 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 377,930 compare
- 41 Timor-Leste 270,094 compare
- 42 Paraguay 252,998 compare
- 43 Panama 130,592 compare
- 44 Kuwait 126,488 compare
- 45 Spain 121,292 compare
- 46 United Arab Emirates 102,819 compare
More education data for SDG: Least Developed Countries
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 75.92 million (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 14.09 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 36.37 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 11.66 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.684 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 11.32 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 4.43 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.7503 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 87.82 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.09 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Least Developed Countries?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Least Developed Countries was 227.39 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in SDG: Least Developed Countries?
- The highest recorded value was 227.39 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in SDG: Least Developed Countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 157.86 million in 1990.
- How does SDG: Least Developed Countries rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- SDG: Least Developed Countries ranks 43rd out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in SDG: Least Developed Countries?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this SDG: Least Developed Countries 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