Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central
WB: Africa Western and Central: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 117.07 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
117.07 million
Change on year
up 2.8%
Rank
69th
of 203 groups
All-time high
117.07 million
in 2024
All-time low
63.45 million
in 1990
Years of data
36
1989–2024
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central, 1989–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
WB: Africa Western and Central recorded 117.07 million for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in 2024. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.8% on the previous year and up 14.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central peaked at 117.07 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 63.45 million, in 1990.
That places WB: Africa Western and Central 69th 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 WB: Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 64.32 million | — |
| 1990 | 63.45 million | -1.4% |
| 1991 | 64.22 million | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 65.18 million | +1.5% |
| 1993 | 66.14 million | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 66.96 million | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 68.72 million | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 69.67 million | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 70.33 million | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 70.50 million | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 71.42 million | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 78.81 million | +10.4% |
| 2001 | 79.29 million | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 80.41 million | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 81.81 million | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 81.92 million | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 84.11 million | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 85.29 million | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 91.36 million | +7.1% |
| 2008 | 93.10 million | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 95.66 million | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 97.32 million | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 97.98 million | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 99.67 million | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 100.65 million | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 101.96 million | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 102.87 million | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 104.75 million | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 105.45 million | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 99.86 million | -5.3% |
| 2019 | 103.40 million | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 106.13 million | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 108.65 million | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 111.16 million | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 113.84 million | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 117.07 million | +2.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 64.32 million | 64.32 million | 64.32 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 67.66 million | 63.45 million | 71.42 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 85.18 million | 78.81 million | 95.66 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 101.39 million | 97.32 million | 105.45 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 111.37 million | 106.13 million | 117.07 million | 5 |
More education data for WB: Africa Western and Central
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 4.61 million (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 7.4 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.89 million (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.08 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.08 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.7294 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.00 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 6.08 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.09 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 18.05 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central was 117.07 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 117.07 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 63.45 million in 1990.
- How does WB: Africa Western and Central rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- WB: Africa Western and Central ranks 69th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this WB: Africa Western and Central 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