Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Northern Africa
SDG: Northern Africa: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 46.09 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
46.09 million
Change on year
down 0.2%
Rank
110th
of 203 groups
All-time high
46.20 million
in 2023
All-time low
38.69 million
in 2004
Years of data
36
1989–2024
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Northern Africa, 1989–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Northern Africa is 46.09 million, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 12.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Northern Africa peaked at 46.20 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 38.69 million, in 2004.
That places SDG: Northern Africa 110th out of 203 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Northern Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 41.33 million | — |
| 1990 | 40.50 million | -2.0% |
| 1991 | 40.76 million | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 41.00 million | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 41.61 million | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 41.95 million | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 42.25 million | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 42.37 million | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 42.42 million | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 42.44 million | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 42.54 million | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 42.66 million | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 42.45 million | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 42.46 million | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 38.77 million | -8.7% |
| 2004 | 38.69 million | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 38.85 million | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 45.05 million | +16.0% |
| 2007 | 45.17 million | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 44.85 million | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 43.87 million | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 43.80 million | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 41.76 million | -4.7% |
| 2012 | 40.81 million | -2.3% |
| 2013 | 39.64 million | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 41.11 million | +3.7% |
| 2015 | 40.93 million | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 45.93 million | +12.2% |
| 2017 | 45.73 million | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 45.74 million | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 45.92 million | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 46.05 million | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 46.07 million | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 46.07 million | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 46.20 million | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 46.09 million | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 41.33 million | 41.33 million | 41.33 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 41.78 million | 40.50 million | 42.54 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 42.28 million | 38.69 million | 45.17 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 43.14 million | 39.64 million | 45.93 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.09 million | 46.05 million | 46.20 million | 5 |
More education data for SDG: Northern Africa
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 26.17 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 4.36 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 12.91 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 4.66 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.30 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 3.99 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.47 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 33.17 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.18 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 13.26 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Northern Africa?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Northern Africa was 46.09 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in SDG: Northern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 46.20 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in SDG: Northern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.69 million in 2004.
- How does SDG: Northern Africa rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- SDG: Northern Africa ranks 110th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in SDG: Northern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this SDG: Northern Africa 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