Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa
UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 108.24 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa, 1989–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa is 108.24 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 1.8% on the previous year and up 19.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa peaked at 108.24 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 63.74 million, in 1990.
That places UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa 75th out of 203 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 64.62 million | — |
| 1990 | 63.74 million | -1.3% |
| 1991 | 65.59 million | +2.9% |
| 1992 | 66.81 million | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 67.64 million | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 68.66 million | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 69.72 million | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 70.50 million | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 70.66 million | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 72.13 million | +2.1% |
| 1999 | 72.29 million | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 73.23 million | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 74.17 million | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 74.77 million | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 75.78 million | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 77.43 million | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 81.30 million | +5.0% |
| 2006 | 86.86 million | +6.8% |
| 2007 | 86.71 million | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 88.65 million | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 89.31 million | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 89.85 million | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 90.93 million | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 88.52 million | -2.7% |
| 2013 | 89.40 million | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 90.24 million | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 91.77 million | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 92.34 million | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 95.49 million | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 95.92 million | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 95.01 million | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 97.69 million | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 102.22 million | +4.6% |
| 2022 | 104.23 million | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 106.34 million | +2.0% |
| 2024 | 108.24 million | +1.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 64.62 million | 64.62 million | 64.62 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 68.77 million | 63.74 million | 72.29 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 80.82 million | 73.23 million | 89.31 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 91.95 million | 88.52 million | 95.92 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 103.74 million | 97.69 million | 108.24 million | 5 |
More education data for UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 49.26 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 1.01 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.50 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 2.77 % change on previous year (2022)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 36.30 million (2022)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.22 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 50.69 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.32 % change on previous year (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 8.67 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 9.20 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa was 108.24 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 108.24 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 63.74 million in 1990.
- How does UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa ranks 75th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this UNICEF: Eastern and Southern 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.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release