Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Ibrd Only
WB: Ibrd Only: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 359.23 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
359.23 million
Change on year
down 1.8%
Rank
17th
of 203 groups
All-time high
641.54 million
in 1993
All-time low
359.23 million
in 2024
Years of data
32
1993–2024
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Ibrd Only, 1993–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
WB: Ibrd Only recorded 359.23 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 1.8% on the previous year and down 10.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Ibrd Only peaked at 641.54 million in 1993 and was at its lowest, 359.23 million, in 2024.
That places WB: Ibrd Only 17th out of 203 groups with data for 2024, putting it 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 WB: Ibrd Only, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 641.54 million | — |
| 1994 | 631.01 million | -1.6% |
| 1995 | 619.64 million | -1.8% |
| 1996 | 609.40 million | -1.7% |
| 1997 | 535.72 million | -12.1% |
| 1998 | 495.57 million | -7.5% |
| 1999 | 487.43 million | -1.6% |
| 2000 | 478.02 million | -1.9% |
| 2001 | 479.12 million | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 476.00 million | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 467.28 million | -1.8% |
| 2004 | 463.48 million | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 470.31 million | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 469.73 million | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 449.05 million | -4.4% |
| 2008 | 440.53 million | -1.9% |
| 2009 | 431.88 million | -2.0% |
| 2010 | 419.98 million | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 417.98 million | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 411.18 million | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 408.34 million | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 401.07 million | -1.8% |
| 2015 | 396.27 million | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 394.98 million | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 392.65 million | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 388.85 million | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 391.13 million | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 384.48 million | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 380.13 million | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 372.10 million | -2.1% |
| 2023 | 365.80 million | -1.7% |
| 2024 | 359.23 million | -1.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 574.33 million | 487.43 million | 641.54 million | 7 |
| 2000s | 462.54 million | 431.88 million | 479.12 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 402.24 million | 388.85 million | 419.98 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 372.35 million | 359.23 million | 384.48 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near WB: Ibrd Only
More education data for WB: Ibrd Only
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.2992 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 220.38 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.4897 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 205.39 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 1.84 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 21.35 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 231.24 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 212.56 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 2.12 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.1227 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Ibrd Only?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Ibrd Only was 359.23 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in WB: Ibrd Only?
- The highest recorded value was 641.54 million in 1993.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in WB: Ibrd Only?
- The lowest recorded value was 359.23 million in 2024.
- How does WB: Ibrd Only rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- WB: Ibrd Only ranks 17th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in WB: Ibrd Only?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this WB: Ibrd Only 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