Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean
UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 25.47 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean, 2001–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean recorded 25.47 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 14.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean peaked at 41.43 million in 2001 and was at its lowest, 25.47 million, in 2024.
UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean ranks 130th 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 UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 41.43 million | — |
| 2002 | 40.83 million | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 38.58 million | -5.5% |
| 2004 | 37.93 million | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 38.45 million | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 38.06 million | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 35.09 million | -7.8% |
| 2008 | 34.25 million | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 33.88 million | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 34.63 million | +2.2% |
| 2011 | 31.99 million | -7.6% |
| 2012 | 31.03 million | -3.0% |
| 2013 | 31.64 million | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 29.91 million | -5.5% |
| 2015 | 29.73 million | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 28.15 million | -5.3% |
| 2017 | 28.43 million | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 27.93 million | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 27.49 million | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 27.57 million | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 27.03 million | -2.0% |
| 2022 | 26.42 million | -2.2% |
| 2023 | 26.00 million | -1.6% |
| 2024 | 25.47 million | -2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 37.61 million | 33.88 million | 41.43 million | 9 |
| 2010s | 30.09 million | 27.49 million | 34.63 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.50 million | 25.47 million | 27.57 million | 5 |
More education data for UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 30.95 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) -2.79 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 17.84 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 3.30 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 736,275 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 2.87 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.56 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) -2.74 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.4491 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 31.26 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean was 25.47 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean?
- The highest recorded value was 41.43 million in 2001.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.47 million in 2024.
- How does UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean ranks 130th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this UNICEF: Latin America and 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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About this data
February 2026 Data Release