Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Pre-demographic Dividend
WB: Pre-demographic Dividend: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 203.95 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
203.95 million
Change on year
up 2.2%
Rank
51st
of 203 groups
All-time high
203.95 million
in 2024
All-time low
110.29 million
in 1990
Years of data
36
1989–2024
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Pre-demographic Dividend, 1989–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
WB: Pre-demographic Dividend recorded 203.95 million for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in 2024. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.2% on the previous year and up 14.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Pre-demographic Dividend peaked at 203.95 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 110.29 million, in 1990.
That places WB: Pre-demographic Dividend 51st out of 203 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Pre-demographic Dividend, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 111.61 million | — |
| 1990 | 110.29 million | -1.2% |
| 1991 | 111.96 million | +1.5% |
| 1992 | 113.77 million | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 116.07 million | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 118.39 million | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 121.92 million | +3.0% |
| 1996 | 123.63 million | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 124.26 million | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 125.77 million | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 126.93 million | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 135.18 million | +6.5% |
| 2001 | 136.30 million | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 137.63 million | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 140.33 million | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 142.66 million | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 148.42 million | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 157.21 million | +5.9% |
| 2007 | 165.87 million | +5.5% |
| 2008 | 169.40 million | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 173.89 million | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 176.38 million | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 173.95 million | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 173.89 million | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 174.87 million | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 177.62 million | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 180.20 million | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 182.89 million | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 183.01 million | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 178.78 million | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 183.88 million | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 188.52 million | +2.5% |
| 2021 | 192.41 million | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 195.87 million | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 199.58 million | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 203.95 million | +2.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 111.61 million | 111.61 million | 111.61 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 119.30 million | 110.29 million | 126.93 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 150.69 million | 135.18 million | 173.89 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 178.55 million | 173.89 million | 183.88 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 196.07 million | 188.52 million | 203.95 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near WB: Pre-demographic Dividend
More education data for WB: Pre-demographic Dividend
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.24 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 32.69 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.61 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 37.39 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 4.13 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 5.04 million (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 5.35 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 3.46 million (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 8.50 million (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 4.62 % change on previous year (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Pre-demographic Dividend?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Pre-demographic Dividend was 203.95 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in WB: Pre-demographic Dividend?
- The highest recorded value was 203.95 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in WB: Pre-demographic Dividend?
- The lowest recorded value was 110.29 million in 1990.
- How does WB: Pre-demographic Dividend rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- WB: Pre-demographic Dividend ranks 51st out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in WB: Pre-demographic Dividend?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this WB: Pre-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