Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
SDG: Sub-saharan Africa: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 224.56 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
224.56 million
Change on year
up 2.3%
Rank
46th
of 203 groups
All-time high
224.56 million
in 2024
All-time low
129.23 million
in 1990
Years of data
36
1989–2024
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1989–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
SDG: Sub-saharan Africa recorded 224.56 million for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in 2024. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 2.3% on the previous year and up 16.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 224.56 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 129.23 million, in 1990.
SDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 46th of 203 groups on this measure, 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: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 130.97 million | — |
| 1990 | 129.23 million | -1.3% |
| 1991 | 132.00 million | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 134.30 million | +1.7% |
| 1993 | 136.26 million | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 138.24 million | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 141.51 million | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 143.38 million | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 144.16 million | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 145.80 million | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 147.14 million | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 155.70 million | +5.8% |
| 2001 | 157.39 million | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 159.36 million | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 162.02 million | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 164.06 million | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 170.44 million | +3.9% |
| 2006 | 176.67 million | +3.7% |
| 2007 | 182.78 million | +3.5% |
| 2008 | 186.63 million | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 190.02 million | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 192.38 million | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 189.79 million | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 189.19 million | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 191.05 million | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 193.19 million | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 195.61 million | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 198.05 million | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 201.88 million | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 196.52 million | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 198.81 million | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 203.93 million | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 210.72 million | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 214.93 million | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 219.43 million | +2.1% |
| 2024 | 224.56 million | +2.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 130.97 million | 130.97 million | 130.97 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 139.20 million | 129.23 million | 147.14 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 170.51 million | 155.70 million | 190.02 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 194.65 million | 189.19 million | 201.88 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 214.71 million | 203.93 million | 224.56 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
More education data for SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 191.30 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.31 % change on previous year (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 14.32 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.68 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 37.60 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 12.63 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 12.47 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.8202 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 4.94 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 97.68 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa was 224.56 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 224.56 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 129.23 million in 1990.
- How does SDG: Sub-saharan Africa rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- SDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 46th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this SDG: Sub-saharan 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release