Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: North America
WB: North America: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 3.67 million in 2022. ▲ Rising
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: North America, 2003–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: North America is 3.67 million, measured in 2022. That is the highest value across all 12 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 5.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: North America peaked at 3.67 million in 2022 and was at its lowest, 3.47 million, in 2003.
WB: North America ranks 170th of 203 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: North America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 3.47 million | — |
| 2004 | 3.48 million | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 3.49 million | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 3.50 million | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 3.51 million | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 3.50 million | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 3.64 million | +4.1% |
| 2018 | 3.65 million | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 3.66 million | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 3.67 million | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 3.64 million | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 3.67 million | +1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.49 million | 3.47 million | 3.51 million | 6 |
| 2010s | 3.65 million | 3.64 million | 3.66 million | 3 |
| 2020s | 3.66 million | 3.64 million | 3.67 million | 3 |
More education data for WB: North America
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 19.12 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate -0.2591 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 13.65 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.3042 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 14.49 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.3046 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 8.81 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual -2.61 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 8.08 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) -3.89 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: North America?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: North America was 3.67 million in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in WB: North America?
- The highest recorded value was 3.67 million in 2022.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in WB: North America?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.47 million in 2003.
- How does WB: North America rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- WB: North America ranks 170th out of 203 groups with data for 2022.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in WB: North America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this WB: North America 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