Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Early-demographic Dividend
WB: Early-demographic Dividend: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 453.29 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Early-demographic Dividend, 1994–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Early-demographic Dividend is 453.29 million, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 31 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 5.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Early-demographic Dividend peaked at 555.92 million in 1994 and was at its lowest, 453.29 million, in 2024.
That places WB: Early-demographic Dividend 13th out of 203 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 31 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Early-demographic Dividend, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 555.92 million | — |
| 1995 | 549.58 million | -1.1% |
| 1996 | 544.93 million | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 540.47 million | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 501.79 million | -7.2% |
| 1999 | 497.65 million | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 492.31 million | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 498.32 million | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 499.41 million | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 494.84 million | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 494.63 million | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 505.71 million | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 516.85 million | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 510.27 million | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 505.50 million | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 501.31 million | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 482.81 million | -3.7% |
| 2011 | 488.07 million | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 492.04 million | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 487.73 million | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 479.74 million | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 469.00 million | -2.2% |
| 2016 | 463.16 million | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 465.66 million | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 465.67 million | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 471.19 million | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 467.52 million | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 465.30 million | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 459.94 million | -1.2% |
| 2023 | 456.76 million | -0.7% |
| 2024 | 453.29 million | -0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 531.72 million | 497.65 million | 555.92 million | 6 |
| 2000s | 501.92 million | 492.31 million | 516.85 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 476.51 million | 463.16 million | 492.04 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 460.56 million | 453.29 million | 467.52 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near WB: Early-demographic Dividend
More education data for WB: Early-demographic Dividend
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.0322 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 163.59 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.3392 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 156.47 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 2.6 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 13.97 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 188.52 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 2.5 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 2.82 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate -0.2597 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Early-demographic Dividend?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Early-demographic Dividend was 453.29 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in WB: Early-demographic Dividend?
- The highest recorded value was 555.92 million in 1994.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in WB: Early-demographic Dividend?
- The lowest recorded value was 453.29 million in 2024.
- How does WB: Early-demographic Dividend rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- WB: Early-demographic Dividend ranks 13th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in WB: Early-demographic Dividend?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this WB: Early-demographic Dividend 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