Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Brazil
Brazil: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 11.17 million number in 2018. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Brazil, 1980–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2018, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Brazil stood at 11.17 million number. That is the lowest value across all 16 years on record.
The figure is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 21.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Brazil peaked at 18.95 million number in 1980 and was at its lowest, 11.17 million number, in 2018.
Brazil ranks 8th of 87 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 16 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Brazil, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 18.95 million number | — |
| 2000 | 16.70 million number | -11.9% |
| 2004 | 15.11 million number | -9.5% |
| 2006 | 14.30 million number | -5.4% |
| 2007 | 14.00 million number | -2.1% |
| 2008 | 14.20 million number | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 14.05 million number | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 14.16 million number | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 12.85 million number | -9.3% |
| 2012 | 13.16 million number | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 13.13 million number | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 12.95 million number | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 12.62 million number | -2.5% |
| 2016 | 11.56 million number | -8.4% |
| 2017 | 11.28 million number | -2.5% |
| 2018 | 11.17 million number | -1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 18.95 million number | 18.95 million number | 18.95 million number | 1 |
| 2000s | 14.73 million number | 14.00 million number | 16.70 million number | 6 |
| 2010s | 12.54 million number | 11.17 million number | 14.16 million number | 9 |
Countries ranked near Brazil
- 5 Ethiopia 30.15 million number compare
- 6 Bangladesh 30.00 million number compare
- 7 Egypt 18.52 million number compare
- 9 Iran, Islamic Republic of 8.70 million number compare
- 10 Indonesia 8.53 million number compare
- 11 Côte d'Ivoire 7.69 million number compare
More education data for Brazil
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.02 million (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 1.44 million (2011)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.71 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.59 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 21.50 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 15.11 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.1454 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0713 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Brazil?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Brazil was 11.17 million number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Brazil?
- The highest recorded value was 18.95 million number in 1980.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Brazil?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.17 million number in 2018.
- How does Brazil rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- Brazil ranks 8th out of 87 countries with data for 2018.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Brazil?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Brazil 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.