Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Algeria

Algeria: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 5.48 million number in 2018. ▼ Falling

Latest (2018)
5.48 million number
World rank
19th
of 87 countries
All-time high
6.61 million number
in 1987
All-time low
5.48 million number
in 2018
Years of data
5
1987–2018

Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Algeria, 1987–2018

02.0M4.0M6.0M1987200220181987: 6.6M number2002: 6.6M number2006: 6.6M number2008: 6.3M number2018: 5.5M number

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

In 2018, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Algeria stood at 5.48 million number. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 12.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Algeria peaked at 6.61 million number in 1987 and was at its lowest, 5.48 million number, in 2018.

Algeria ranks 19th of 87 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Algeria, year by year

Annual values for Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes (number) in Algeria, 1987 to 2018.
Year number Change
1987 6.61 million number
2002 6.56 million number -0.9%
2006 6.57 million number +0.3%
2008 6.25 million number -4.9%
2018 5.48 million number -12.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 6.61 million number 6.61 million number 6.61 million number 1
2000s 6.46 million number 6.25 million number 6.57 million number 3
2010s 5.48 million number 5.48 million number 5.48 million number 1

Countries ranked near Algeria

  1. 16 Tanzania, United Republic of 6.24 million number compare
  2. 17 Mozambique 6.18 million number compare
  3. 18 Chad 5.90 million number compare
  4. 20 Uganda 5.32 million number compare
  5. 21 South Africa 5.23 million number compare
  6. 22 Mexico 4.27 million number compare

See the full ranking of 126 places →

More education data for Algeria

All data for Algeria →

Frequently asked questions

What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Algeria?
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Algeria was 5.48 million number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Algeria?
The highest recorded value was 6.61 million number in 1987.
What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Algeria?
The lowest recorded value was 5.48 million number in 2018.
How does Algeria rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
Algeria ranks 19th out of 87 countries with data for 2018.
Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Algeria?
Over the last ten years it is down 12.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Algeria 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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Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Algeria. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/adult-illiterate-population-15-years-both-sexes-number/algeria/

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About this data

Indicator
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
126 places, 2,267 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Total number of adults over age 15 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life.