Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UIS: Central and Eastern Europe
UIS: Central and Eastern Europe: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 2.31 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UIS: Central and Eastern Europe, 1999–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
UIS: Central and Eastern Europe recorded 2.31 million for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.1% on the previous year and down 41.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UIS: Central and Eastern Europe peaked at 9.78 million in 1999 and was at its lowest, 2.31 million, in 2024.
That places UIS: Central and Eastern Europe 177th out of 203 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UIS: Central and Eastern Europe, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 9.78 million | — |
| 2000 | 9.20 million | -6.0% |
| 2001 | 9.02 million | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 8.84 million | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 8.68 million | -1.8% |
| 2004 | 8.57 million | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 8.17 million | -4.6% |
| 2006 | 8.41 million | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 8.18 million | -2.7% |
| 2008 | 7.86 million | -3.9% |
| 2009 | 6.42 million | -18.3% |
| 2010 | 5.45 million | -15.0% |
| 2011 | 4.68 million | -14.1% |
| 2012 | 4.23 million | -9.7% |
| 2013 | 4.08 million | -3.4% |
| 2014 | 3.94 million | -3.4% |
| 2015 | 3.79 million | -3.8% |
| 2016 | 3.58 million | -5.7% |
| 2017 | 3.37 million | -5.9% |
| 2018 | 2.98 million | -11.3% |
| 2019 | 2.72 million | -8.8% |
| 2020 | 2.67 million | -1.8% |
| 2021 | 2.58 million | -3.4% |
| 2022 | 2.52 million | -2.6% |
| 2023 | 2.41 million | -4.4% |
| 2024 | 2.31 million | -4.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.78 million | 9.78 million | 9.78 million | 1 |
| 2000s | 8.33 million | 6.42 million | 9.20 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.88 million | 2.72 million | 5.45 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.50 million | 2.31 million | 2.67 million | 5 |
More education data for UIS: Central and Eastern Europe
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.01 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 4.82 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 10.70 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 3.8 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 11.23 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 17.22 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 147,611 (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate -0.0777 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate -0.0942 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 12.50 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UIS: Central and Eastern Europe?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UIS: Central and Eastern Europe was 2.31 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in UIS: Central and Eastern Europe?
- The highest recorded value was 9.78 million in 1999.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in UIS: Central and Eastern Europe?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.31 million in 2024.
- How does UIS: Central and Eastern Europe rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- UIS: Central and Eastern Europe ranks 177th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in UIS: Central and Eastern Europe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 41.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this UIS: Central and Eastern Europe 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