Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: All Unicef Countries
UNICEF: All Unicef Countries: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 717.60 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
717.60 million
Change on year
down 0.2%
Rank
7th
of 203 groups
All-time high
919.35 million
in 1991
All-time low
716.95 million
in 2018
Years of data
34
1991–2024
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: All Unicef Countries, 1991–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: All Unicef Countries stood at 717.60 million.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and down 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: All Unicef Countries peaked at 919.35 million in 1991 and was at its lowest, 716.95 million, in 2018.
That places UNICEF: All Unicef Countries 7th out of 203 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: All Unicef Countries, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 919.35 million | — |
| 1992 | 911.45 million | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 903.62 million | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 896.11 million | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 888.95 million | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 882.20 million | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 811.00 million | -8.1% |
| 1998 | 770.27 million | -5.0% |
| 1999 | 764.46 million | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 764.78 million | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 768.78 million | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 768.33 million | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 761.93 million | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 761.35 million | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 775.29 million | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 792.08 million | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 778.26 million | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 774.20 million | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 770.63 million | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 752.98 million | -2.3% |
| 2011 | 749.67 million | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 750.81 million | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 746.76 million | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 740.56 million | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 730.11 million | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 723.40 million | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 723.48 million | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 716.95 million | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 725.58 million | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 724.54 million | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 724.15 million | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 720.17 million | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 718.79 million | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 717.60 million | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 860.82 million | 764.46 million | 919.35 million | 9 |
| 2000s | 771.56 million | 761.35 million | 792.08 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 736.03 million | 716.95 million | 752.98 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 721.05 million | 717.60 million | 724.54 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near UNICEF: All Unicef Countries
More education data for UNICEF: All Unicef Countries
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 569.51 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.8422 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 274.67 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 1.48 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 29.12 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.6486 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.84 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.59 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 345.07 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 294.84 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: All Unicef Countries?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: All Unicef Countries was 717.60 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: All Unicef Countries?
- The highest recorded value was 919.35 million in 1991.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: All Unicef Countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 716.95 million in 2018.
- How does UNICEF: All Unicef Countries rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- UNICEF: All Unicef Countries ranks 7th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: All Unicef Countries?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this UNICEF: All Unicef Countries 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