Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Early-demographic dividend
Early-demographic dividend: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 473.77 million number in 2019. ▲ Rising
Latest (2019)
473.77 million number
Change on year
down 0.6%
Rank
6th
of 39 groups
All-time high
530.87 million number
in 1997
All-time low
420.05 million number
in 1975
Years of data
45
1975–2019
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Early-demographic dividend, 1975–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2019, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Early-demographic dividend stood at 473.77 million number.
That represents a change of down 0.6% on the previous year and down 5.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Early-demographic dividend peaked at 530.87 million number in 1997 and was at its lowest, 420.05 million number, in 1975.
Early-demographic dividend ranks 6th of 39 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Early-demographic dividend, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 420.05 million number | — |
| 1976 | 428.78 million number | +2.1% |
| 1977 | 434.63 million number | +1.4% |
| 1978 | 440.80 million number | +1.4% |
| 1979 | 447.44 million number | +1.5% |
| 1980 | 459.06 million number | +2.6% |
| 1981 | 463.89 million number | +1.1% |
| 1982 | 467.21 million number | +0.7% |
| 1983 | 473.95 million number | +1.4% |
| 1984 | 478.89 million number | +1.0% |
| 1985 | 485.50 million number | +1.4% |
| 1986 | 491.35 million number | +1.2% |
| 1987 | 494.38 million number | +0.6% |
| 1988 | 499.23 million number | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 504.70 million number | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 507.92 million number | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 515.42 million number | +1.5% |
| 1992 | 515.18 million number | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 518.14 million number | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 520.85 million number | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 523.57 million number | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 526.82 million number | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 530.87 million number | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 499.12 million number | -6.0% |
| 1999 | 502.61 million number | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 504.71 million number | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 509.70 million number | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 510.54 million number | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 504.90 million number | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 502.68 million number | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 517.83 million number | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 519.77 million number | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 521.00 million number | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 509.47 million number | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 502.82 million number | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 490.79 million number | -2.4% |
| 2011 | 499.38 million number | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 497.42 million number | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 496.78 million number | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 488.76 million number | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 482.39 million number | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 477.39 million number | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 476.34 million number | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 476.81 million number | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 473.77 million number | -0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 434.34 million number | 420.05 million number | 447.44 million number | 5 |
| 1980s | 481.82 million number | 459.06 million number | 504.70 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 516.05 million number | 499.12 million number | 530.87 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 510.34 million number | 502.68 million number | 521.00 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 485.98 million number | 473.77 million number | 499.38 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Early-demographic dividend
More education data for Early-demographic dividend
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 13.97 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 320.06 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 364.78 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.5 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 26.9% (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 66.3% (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1027 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Early-demographic dividend?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Early-demographic dividend was 473.77 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Early-demographic dividend?
- The highest recorded value was 530.87 million number in 1997.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Early-demographic dividend?
- The lowest recorded value was 420.05 million number in 1975.
- How does Early-demographic dividend rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- Early-demographic dividend ranks 6th out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Early-demographic dividend?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Early-demographic dividend 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.
Download this data
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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.