Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UIS: Arab States
UIS: Arab States: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 63.83 million in 2024. ▬ Flat
Latest (2024)
63.83 million
Change on year
up 0.5%
Rank
97th
of 203 groups
All-time high
63.83 million
in 2024
All-time low
55.40 million
in 2004
Years of data
36
1989–2024
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UIS: Arab States, 1989–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UIS: Arab States is 63.83 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 11.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UIS: Arab States peaked at 63.83 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 55.40 million, in 2004.
That places UIS: Arab States 97th out of 203 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UIS: Arab States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 60.65 million | — |
| 1990 | 59.33 million | -2.2% |
| 1991 | 59.23 million | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 59.48 million | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 60.05 million | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 60.43 million | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 60.67 million | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 60.60 million | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 60.45 million | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 60.14 million | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 60.04 million | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 59.99 million | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 59.60 million | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 59.29 million | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 55.63 million | -6.2% |
| 2004 | 55.40 million | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 55.83 million | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 62.20 million | +11.4% |
| 2007 | 62.07 million | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 61.94 million | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 61.24 million | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 61.24 million | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 58.53 million | -4.4% |
| 2012 | 57.70 million | -1.4% |
| 2013 | 56.36 million | -2.3% |
| 2014 | 57.46 million | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 56.70 million | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 61.58 million | +8.6% |
| 2017 | 61.18 million | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 61.51 million | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 62.00 million | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 62.40 million | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 62.63 million | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 62.96 million | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 63.54 million | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 63.83 million | +0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 60.65 million | 60.65 million | 60.65 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 60.04 million | 59.23 million | 60.67 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 59.32 million | 55.40 million | 62.20 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 59.43 million | 56.36 million | 62.00 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 63.07 million | 62.40 million | 63.83 million | 5 |
More education data for UIS: Arab States
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 7.02 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 19.66 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 2.18 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 20.94 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.7 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 6.30 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 0.6559 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 14.51 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 7.10 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 6.96 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UIS: Arab States?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UIS: Arab States was 63.83 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in UIS: Arab States?
- The highest recorded value was 63.83 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in UIS: Arab States?
- The lowest recorded value was 55.40 million in 2004.
- How does UIS: Arab States rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- UIS: Arab States ranks 97th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in UIS: Arab States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this UIS: Arab States 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