Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Arab World
Arab World: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 77.52 million number in 2019. ▲ Rising
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Arab World, 1977–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2019, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Arab World stood at 77.52 million number. That is the highest value across all 43 years on record.
The figure is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 7.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Arab World peaked at 77.52 million number in 2019 and was at its lowest, 46.05 million number, in 1977.
That places Arab World 22nd out of 39 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 43 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Arab World, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 46.05 million number | — |
| 1978 | 47.32 million number | +2.8% |
| 1979 | 48.59 million number | +2.7% |
| 1980 | 49.81 million number | +2.5% |
| 1981 | 50.95 million number | +2.3% |
| 1982 | 52.00 million number | +2.1% |
| 1983 | 53.54 million number | +3.0% |
| 1984 | 54.42 million number | +1.7% |
| 1985 | 55.32 million number | +1.7% |
| 1986 | 56.05 million number | +1.3% |
| 1987 | 57.01 million number | +1.7% |
| 1988 | 57.62 million number | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 58.32 million number | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 58.94 million number | +1.1% |
| 1991 | 59.39 million number | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 60.05 million number | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 61.00 million number | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 61.79 million number | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 62.32 million number | +0.9% |
| 1996 | 62.11 million number | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 62.74 million number | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 62.72 million number | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 62.86 million number | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 63.06 million number | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 62.93 million number | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 62.74 million number | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 59.57 million number | -5.0% |
| 2004 | 59.57 million number | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 62.41 million number | +4.8% |
| 2006 | 66.55 million number | +6.6% |
| 2007 | 67.51 million number | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 67.50 million number | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 72.43 million number | +7.3% |
| 2010 | 72.35 million number | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 69.98 million number | -3.3% |
| 2012 | 63.33 million number | -9.5% |
| 2013 | 66.05 million number | +4.3% |
| 2014 | 63.01 million number | -4.6% |
| 2015 | 70.38 million number | +11.7% |
| 2016 | 68.17 million number | -3.1% |
| 2017 | 67.17 million number | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 76.63 million number | +14.1% |
| 2019 | 77.52 million number | +1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 47.32 million number | 46.05 million number | 48.59 million number | 3 |
| 1980s | 54.51 million number | 49.81 million number | 58.32 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 61.39 million number | 58.94 million number | 62.86 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 64.43 million number | 59.57 million number | 72.43 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 69.46 million number | 63.01 million number | 77.52 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Arab World
More education data for Arab World
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 2.58 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 40.79 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 55.62 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.7891 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1129 units per person (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 63.3% (2025)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 32.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Arab World?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Arab World was 77.52 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Arab World?
- The highest recorded value was 77.52 million number in 2019.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Arab World?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.05 million number in 1977.
- How does Arab World rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- Arab World ranks 22nd out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Arab World?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Arab World 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
Total number of adults over age 15 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life.