Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa
UNICEF: West and Central Africa: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 127.80 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
127.80 million
Change on year
up 2.6%
Rank
65th
of 203 groups
All-time high
127.80 million
in 2024
All-time low
70.52 million
in 1990
Years of data
36
1989–2024
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa, 1989–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa stood at 127.80 million. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.6% on the previous year and up 14.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa peaked at 127.80 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 70.52 million, in 1990.
That places UNICEF: West and Central Africa 65th 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: West and Central Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 71.39 million | — |
| 1990 | 70.52 million | -1.2% |
| 1991 | 71.55 million | +1.5% |
| 1992 | 72.72 million | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 73.95 million | +1.7% |
| 1994 | 75.05 million | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 77.41 million | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 78.50 million | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 79.07 million | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 79.25 million | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 80.43 million | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 88.05 million | +9.5% |
| 2001 | 88.80 million | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 90.14 million | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 91.78 million | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 92.13 million | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 94.60 million | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 98.06 million | +3.7% |
| 2007 | 104.41 million | +6.5% |
| 2008 | 106.41 million | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 109.25 million | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 111.20 million | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 107.55 million | -3.3% |
| 2012 | 109.39 million | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 110.44 million | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 111.82 million | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 112.89 million | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 114.95 million | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 115.80 million | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 110.30 million | -4.8% |
| 2019 | 113.88 million | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 116.65 million | +2.4% |
| 2021 | 119.23 million | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 121.78 million | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 124.51 million | +2.2% |
| 2024 | 127.80 million | +2.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 71.39 million | 71.39 million | 71.39 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 75.85 million | 70.52 million | 80.43 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 96.36 million | 88.05 million | 109.25 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 111.82 million | 107.55 million | 115.80 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 121.99 million | 116.65 million | 127.80 million | 5 |
More education data for UNICEF: West and Central Africa
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 4.92 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 20.41 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.9224 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 22.91 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.5411 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 8.34 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 0.9535 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 5.20 million (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.46 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 5.73 % change on previous year (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: West and Central Africa was 127.80 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 127.80 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 70.52 million in 1990.
- How does UNICEF: West and Central Africa rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- UNICEF: West and Central Africa ranks 65th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: West and Central Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this UNICEF: West and Central 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