Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Middle East & North Africa (ida & Ibrd)
WB: Middle East & North Africa (ida & Ibrd): Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 130.74 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Middle East & North Africa (ida & Ibrd), 1989–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Middle East & North Africa (ida & Ibrd) is 130.74 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and up 7.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Middle East & North Africa (ida & Ibrd) peaked at 130.74 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 105.94 million, in 1990.
That places WB: Middle East & North Africa (ida & Ibrd) 63rd 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: Middle East & North Africa (ida & Ibrd), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 109.76 million | — |
| 1990 | 105.94 million | -3.5% |
| 1991 | 107.23 million | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 106.74 million | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 106.54 million | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 107.85 million | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 108.30 million | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 109.34 million | +1.0% |
| 1997 | 110.39 million | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 111.44 million | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 112.52 million | +1.0% |
| 2000 | 113.61 million | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 114.19 million | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 115.15 million | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 110.97 million | -3.6% |
| 2004 | 111.91 million | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 113.14 million | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 118.50 million | +4.7% |
| 2007 | 119.58 million | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 117.36 million | -1.9% |
| 2009 | 116.93 million | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 118.19 million | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 121.58 million | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 119.90 million | -1.4% |
| 2013 | 121.23 million | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 122.15 million | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 121.30 million | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 125.62 million | +3.6% |
| 2017 | 126.39 million | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 128.88 million | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 130.10 million | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 130.56 million | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 130.71 million | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 130.60 million | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 130.60 million | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 130.74 million | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 109.76 million | 109.76 million | 109.76 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 108.63 million | 105.94 million | 112.52 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 115.13 million | 110.97 million | 119.58 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 123.53 million | 118.19 million | 130.10 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 130.64 million | 130.56 million | 130.74 million | 5 |
More education data for WB: Middle East & North Africa (ida & Ibrd)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 5.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 14.92 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 4.73 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 32.41 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 6.5 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 28.76 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 2.17 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.81 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 40.56 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 2.95 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Middle East & North Africa (ida & Ibrd)?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Middle East & North Africa (ida & Ibrd) was 130.74 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in WB: Middle East & North Africa (ida & Ibrd)?
- The highest recorded value was 130.74 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in WB: Middle East & North Africa (ida & Ibrd)?
- The lowest recorded value was 105.94 million in 1990.
- How does WB: Middle East & North Africa (ida & Ibrd) rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- WB: Middle East & North Africa (ida & Ibrd) ranks 63rd out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in WB: Middle East & North Africa (ida & Ibrd)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this WB: Middle East & North Africa (ida & Ibrd) 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