Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Europe & Central Asia
WB: Europe & Central Asia: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 9.29 million in 2023. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Europe & Central Asia, 2008–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Europe & Central Asia is 9.29 million, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 16 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 30.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Europe & Central Asia peaked at 18.39 million in 2008 and was at its lowest, 9.29 million, in 2023.
WB: Europe & Central Asia ranks 160th of 203 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 16 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Europe & Central Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 18.39 million | — |
| 2009 | 16.58 million | -9.8% |
| 2010 | 15.42 million | -7.0% |
| 2011 | 14.42 million | -6.5% |
| 2012 | 13.74 million | -4.7% |
| 2013 | 13.33 million | -3.0% |
| 2014 | 13.05 million | -2.1% |
| 2015 | 12.72 million | -2.5% |
| 2016 | 12.32 million | -3.2% |
| 2017 | 11.77 million | -4.4% |
| 2018 | 11.14 million | -5.3% |
| 2019 | 10.69 million | -4.1% |
| 2020 | 10.44 million | -2.3% |
| 2021 | 9.45 million | -9.5% |
| 2022 | 9.39 million | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 9.29 million | -1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 17.49 million | 16.58 million | 18.39 million | 2 |
| 2010s | 12.86 million | 10.69 million | 15.42 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.64 million | 9.29 million | 10.44 million | 4 |
More education data for WB: Europe & Central Asia
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 25.45 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 3.52 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.2954 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 83.79 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate -0.058 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 26.90 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate -0.0467 % change on previous year (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 492,126 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 14.94 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 13.77 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Europe & Central Asia?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Europe & Central Asia was 9.29 million in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in WB: Europe & Central Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 18.39 million in 2008.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in WB: Europe & Central Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.29 million in 2023.
- How does WB: Europe & Central Asia rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- WB: Europe & Central Asia ranks 160th out of 203 groups with data for 2023.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in WB: Europe & Central Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this WB: Europe & Central Asia 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