Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Central Europe and the Baltics
Central Europe and the Baltics: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 885,235 number in 2016. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Central Europe and the Baltics, 1982–2016
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2016, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Central Europe and the Baltics stood at 885,235 number. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.6% on the previous year and down 27.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Central Europe and the Baltics peaked at 1.66 million number in 1988 and was at its lowest, 885,235 number, in 2016.
Central Europe and the Baltics ranks 37th of 39 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Central Europe and the Baltics, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 1.64 million number | — |
| 1983 | 1.63 million number | -0.5% |
| 1984 | 1.61 million number | -1.2% |
| 1985 | 1.59 million number | -1.0% |
| 1986 | 1.58 million number | -0.6% |
| 1987 | 1.56 million number | -1.2% |
| 1988 | 1.66 million number | +6.1% |
| 1989 | 1.62 million number | -2.4% |
| 1990 | 1.58 million number | -2.6% |
| 1991 | 1.54 million number | -2.2% |
| 1992 | 1.51 million number | -2.4% |
| 1993 | 1.48 million number | -1.9% |
| 1994 | 1.45 million number | -2.3% |
| 1995 | 1.41 million number | -2.4% |
| 1996 | 1.38 million number | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 1.35 million number | -2.2% |
| 1998 | 1.28 million number | -5.2% |
| 1999 | 1.35 million number | +5.1% |
| 2000 | 1.32 million number | -2.0% |
| 2001 | 1.30 million number | -1.5% |
| 2002 | 1.28 million number | -1.7% |
| 2003 | 1.27 million number | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 1.25 million number | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 1.23 million number | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 1.23 million number | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 1.21 million number | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 1.17 million number | -3.0% |
| 2009 | 985,114 number | -15.9% |
| 2010 | 966,665 number | -1.9% |
| 2011 | 948,685 number | -1.9% |
| 2012 | 936,176 number | -1.3% |
| 2013 | 925,985 number | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 912,717 number | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 899,327 number | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 885,235 number | -1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.61 million number | 1.56 million number | 1.66 million number | 8 |
| 1990s | 1.43 million number | 1.28 million number | 1.58 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.22 million number | 985,114 number | 1.32 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 924,970 number | 885,235 number | 966,665 number | 7 |
Countries ranked near Central Europe and the Baltics
More education data for Central Europe and the Baltics
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 14.8% (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 64.3% (2025)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 337,770 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0452 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.52 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 8.33 million (2024)
- Primary 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 Central Europe and the Baltics?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Central Europe and the Baltics was 885,235 number in 2016, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Central Europe and the Baltics?
- The highest recorded value was 1.66 million number in 1988.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Central Europe and the Baltics?
- The lowest recorded value was 885,235 number in 2016.
- How does Central Europe and the Baltics rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- Central Europe and the Baltics ranks 37th out of 39 groups with data for 2016.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Central Europe and the Baltics?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Central Europe and the Baltics 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.