Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern Europe and Central Asia
UNICEF: Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 2.20 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern Europe and Central Asia, 1999–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern Europe and Central Asia is 2.20 million, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.4% on the previous year and down 42.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern Europe and Central Asia peaked at 9.85 million in 1999 and was at its lowest, 2.20 million, in 2024.
That places UNICEF: Eastern Europe and Central Asia 179th 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 UNICEF: Eastern Europe and Central Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 9.85 million | — |
| 2000 | 9.25 million | -6.1% |
| 2001 | 9.06 million | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 8.87 million | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 8.70 million | -1.9% |
| 2004 | 8.57 million | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 8.15 million | -4.9% |
| 2006 | 8.37 million | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 8.13 million | -2.8% |
| 2008 | 7.80 million | -4.0% |
| 2009 | 6.24 million | -20.1% |
| 2010 | 5.27 million | -15.5% |
| 2011 | 4.52 million | -14.4% |
| 2012 | 4.07 million | -10.0% |
| 2013 | 3.92 million | -3.5% |
| 2014 | 3.79 million | -3.3% |
| 2015 | 3.65 million | -3.9% |
| 2016 | 3.44 million | -5.7% |
| 2017 | 3.23 million | -6.0% |
| 2018 | 2.85 million | -11.7% |
| 2019 | 2.60 million | -8.9% |
| 2020 | 2.55 million | -1.8% |
| 2021 | 2.47 million | -3.3% |
| 2022 | 2.41 million | -2.5% |
| 2023 | 2.30 million | -4.5% |
| 2024 | 2.20 million | -4.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.85 million | 9.85 million | 9.85 million | 1 |
| 2000s | 8.31 million | 6.24 million | 9.25 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.73 million | 2.60 million | 5.27 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.39 million | 2.20 million | 2.55 million | 5 |
More education data for UNICEF: Eastern Europe and Central Asia
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 8.65 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 19.80 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.6184 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 21.32 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.5883 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 13.97 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 6.58 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 22.88 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 11.31 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 8.48 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern Europe and Central Asia?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern Europe and Central Asia was 2.20 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: Eastern Europe and Central Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 9.85 million in 1999.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: Eastern Europe and Central Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.20 million in 2024.
- How does UNICEF: Eastern Europe and Central Asia rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- UNICEF: Eastern Europe and Central Asia ranks 179th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: Eastern Europe and Central Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 42.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this UNICEF: Eastern Europe and Central Asia 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