Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Small States
WB: Small States: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 3.69 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
3.69 million
Change on year
up 0.8%
Rank
167th
of 203 groups
All-time high
3.81 million
in 2009
All-time low
3.35 million
in 2004
Years of data
36
1989–2024
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Small States, 1989–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Small States is 3.69 million, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 0.8% on the previous year and down 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Small States peaked at 3.81 million in 2009 and was at its lowest, 3.35 million, in 2004.
WB: Small States ranks 167th of 203 groups on this measure, in the bottom 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: Small States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 3.53 million | — |
| 1990 | 3.46 million | -1.9% |
| 1991 | 3.48 million | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 3.51 million | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 3.52 million | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 3.54 million | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 3.53 million | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 3.51 million | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 3.50 million | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 3.46 million | -1.1% |
| 1999 | 3.46 million | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 3.38 million | -2.3% |
| 2001 | 3.38 million | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 3.37 million | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 3.37 million | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 3.35 million | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 3.61 million | +7.6% |
| 2006 | 3.75 million | +4.1% |
| 2007 | 3.74 million | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 3.72 million | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 3.81 million | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 3.77 million | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 3.76 million | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 3.76 million | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 3.76 million | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 3.77 million | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 3.71 million | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 3.48 million | -6.2% |
| 2017 | 3.49 million | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 3.50 million | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 3.52 million | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 3.60 million | +2.5% |
| 2021 | 3.62 million | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 3.63 million | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 3.66 million | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 3.69 million | +0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3.53 million | 3.53 million | 3.53 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 3.50 million | 3.46 million | 3.54 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.55 million | 3.35 million | 3.81 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.65 million | 3.48 million | 3.77 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.64 million | 3.60 million | 3.69 million | 5 |
More education data for WB: Small States
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 1.52 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.76 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 2.03 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.73 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 2.42 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.08 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 3.34 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 820,716 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 337,554 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.42 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Small States?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: Small States was 3.69 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in WB: Small States?
- The highest recorded value was 3.81 million in 2009.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in WB: Small States?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.35 million in 2004.
- How does WB: Small States rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- WB: Small States ranks 167th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in WB: Small States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this WB: Small States 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