Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa
UIS: Sub-saharan Africa: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 223.63 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
223.63 million
Change on year
up 2.3%
Rank
47th
of 203 groups
All-time high
223.63 million
in 2024
All-time low
128.69 million
in 1990
Years of data
36
1989–2024
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa, 1989–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa is 223.63 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of 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 UIS: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 223.63 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 128.69 million, in 1990.
UIS: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 47th 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 UIS: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 130.43 million | — |
| 1990 | 128.69 million | -1.3% |
| 1991 | 131.44 million | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 133.72 million | +1.7% |
| 1993 | 135.65 million | +1.4% |
| 1994 | 137.60 million | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 140.85 million | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 142.72 million | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 143.49 million | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 145.12 million | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 146.46 million | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 155.00 million | +5.8% |
| 2001 | 156.69 million | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 158.65 million | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 161.30 million | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 163.34 million | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 169.56 million | +3.8% |
| 2006 | 175.78 million | +3.7% |
| 2007 | 181.88 million | +3.5% |
| 2008 | 185.72 million | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 189.08 million | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 191.42 million | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 188.81 million | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 188.43 million | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 190.27 million | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 192.40 million | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 194.81 million | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 197.25 million | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 201.06 million | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 195.69 million | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 197.97 million | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 203.08 million | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 209.85 million | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 214.05 million | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 218.54 million | +2.1% |
| 2024 | 223.63 million | +2.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 130.43 million | 130.43 million | 130.43 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 138.58 million | 128.69 million | 146.46 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 169.70 million | 155.00 million | 189.08 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 193.81 million | 188.43 million | 201.06 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 213.83 million | 203.08 million | 223.63 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near UIS: Sub-saharan Africa
More education data for UIS: Sub-saharan Africa
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 9.73 million (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.7518 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 37.39 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.61 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 40.73 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.23 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 25.04 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 1.63 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 3.6 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 4.53 % change on previous year (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa was 223.63 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 223.63 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 128.69 million in 1990.
- How does UIS: Sub-saharan Africa rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- UIS: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 47th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in UIS: 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 UIS: 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