Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: World
UNICEF: World: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 738.50 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
738.50 million
Change on year
down 0.2%
Rank
5th
of 203 groups
All-time high
946.63 million
in 1993
All-time low
738.50 million
in 2024
Years of data
32
1993–2024
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: World, 1993–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
UNICEF: World recorded 738.50 million for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 32 years on record.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 3.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: World peaked at 946.63 million in 1993 and was at its lowest, 738.50 million, in 2024.
UNICEF: World ranks 5th of 203 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 32 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: World, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 946.63 million | — |
| 1994 | 937.90 million | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 929.53 million | -0.9% |
| 1996 | 921.76 million | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 849.08 million | -7.9% |
| 1998 | 807.95 million | -4.8% |
| 1999 | 800.84 million | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 800.72 million | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 804.08 million | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 802.30 million | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 794.82 million | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 793.26 million | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 806.30 million | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 822.25 million | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 807.39 million | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 802.47 million | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 798.50 million | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 781.71 million | -2.1% |
| 2011 | 777.93 million | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 778.30 million | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 773.99 million | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 765.87 million | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 754.97 million | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 747.83 million | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 747.36 million | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 740.30 million | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 748.53 million | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 747.03 million | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 745.48 million | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 741.35 million | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 739.90 million | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 738.50 million | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 884.81 million | 800.84 million | 946.63 million | 7 |
| 2000s | 803.21 million | 793.26 million | 822.25 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 761.68 million | 740.30 million | 781.71 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 742.45 million | 738.50 million | 747.03 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near UNICEF: World
More education data for UNICEF: World
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.5772 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 336.69 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.7455 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 314.34 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 1.22 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 34.04 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.22 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 376.15 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 404.15 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.4208 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: World?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: World was 738.50 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: World?
- The highest recorded value was 946.63 million in 1993.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: World?
- The lowest recorded value was 738.50 million in 2024.
- How does UNICEF: World rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- UNICEF: World ranks 5th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: World?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this UNICEF: World 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