Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Cameroon
Cameroon: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 3.32 million number in 2018. ▲ Rising
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Cameroon, 1976–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Cameroon is 3.32 million number, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is up 8.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Cameroon peaked at 3.32 million number in 2018 and was at its lowest, 2.52 million number, in 1976.
Cameroon ranks 30th of 87 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 2.52 million number | — |
| 2000 | 2.66 million number | +5.6% |
| 2007 | 3.05 million number | +14.8% |
| 2010 | 3.26 million number | +7.0% |
| 2018 | 3.32 million number | +1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.52 million number | 2.52 million number | 2.52 million number | 1 |
| 2000s | 2.85 million number | 2.66 million number | 3.05 million number | 2 |
| 2010s | 3.29 million number | 3.26 million number | 3.32 million number | 2 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
More education data for Cameroon
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 611,326 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 321,494 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 322,873 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.01 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 5.29 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.6 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1816 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Cameroon?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Cameroon was 3.32 million number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 3.32 million number in 2018.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.52 million number in 1976.
- How does Cameroon rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- Cameroon ranks 30th out of 87 countries with data for 2018.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Cameroon 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.