Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UIS: Latin America and the Caribbean
UIS: Latin America and the Caribbean: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 25.70 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UIS: Latin America and the Caribbean, 2001–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
UIS: Latin America and the Caribbean recorded 25.70 million for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is down 2.0% on the previous year and down 14.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UIS: Latin America and the Caribbean peaked at 41.73 million in 2001 and was at its lowest, 25.70 million, in 2024.
UIS: Latin America and the Caribbean ranks 124th of 203 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UIS: Latin America and the Caribbean, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 41.73 million | — |
| 2002 | 41.12 million | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 38.87 million | -5.5% |
| 2004 | 38.22 million | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 38.74 million | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 38.35 million | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 35.37 million | -7.8% |
| 2008 | 34.53 million | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 34.15 million | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 34.90 million | +2.2% |
| 2011 | 32.25 million | -7.6% |
| 2012 | 31.28 million | -3.0% |
| 2013 | 31.89 million | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 30.15 million | -5.5% |
| 2015 | 29.97 million | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 28.39 million | -5.3% |
| 2017 | 28.67 million | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 28.16 million | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 27.73 million | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 27.81 million | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 27.26 million | -2.0% |
| 2022 | 26.66 million | -2.2% |
| 2023 | 26.23 million | -1.6% |
| 2024 | 25.70 million | -2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 37.90 million | 34.15 million | 41.73 million | 9 |
| 2010s | 30.34 million | 27.73 million | 34.90 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.73 million | 25.70 million | 27.81 million | 5 |
More education data for UIS: Latin America and the Caribbean
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 31.11 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) -2.77 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 17.94 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 3.34 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 740,801 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 2.83 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.59 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) -2.73 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.445 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 31.39 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UIS: Latin America and the Caribbean?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UIS: Latin America and the Caribbean was 25.70 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in UIS: Latin America and the Caribbean?
- The highest recorded value was 41.73 million in 2001.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in UIS: Latin America and the Caribbean?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.70 million in 2024.
- How does UIS: Latin America and the Caribbean rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- UIS: Latin America and the Caribbean ranks 124th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in UIS: Latin America and the Caribbean?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this UIS: Latin America and the Caribbean 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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CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release