Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Ecuador
Ecuador: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 850,572 number in 2017. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Ecuador, 1982–2017
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
Ecuador recorded 850,572 number for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in 2017.
That represents a change of up 28.5% on the previous year and up 11.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Ecuador peaked at 885,448 number in 2011 and was at its lowest, 634,584 number, in 2015.
That places Ecuador 46th out of 87 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Ecuador, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 809,701 number | — |
| 1990 | 736,412 number | -9.1% |
| 2001 | 758,940 number | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 762,961 number | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 749,842 number | -1.7% |
| 2009 | 781,557 number | +4.2% |
| 2010 | 840,209 number | +7.5% |
| 2011 | 885,448 number | +5.4% |
| 2012 | 853,597 number | -3.6% |
| 2013 | 737,111 number | -13.6% |
| 2014 | 647,555 number | -12.1% |
| 2015 | 634,584 number | -2.0% |
| 2016 | 661,701 number | +4.3% |
| 2017 | 850,572 number | +28.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 809,701 number | 809,701 number | 809,701 number | 1 |
| 1990s | 736,412 number | 736,412 number | 736,412 number | 1 |
| 2000s | 763,325 number | 749,842 number | 781,557 number | 4 |
| 2010s | 763,847 number | 634,584 number | 885,448 number | 8 |
Countries ranked near Ecuador
- 43 Philippines 1.26 million number compare
- 44 Malaysia 1.23 million number compare
- 45 Saudi Arabia 1.16 million number compare
- 47 Honduras 837,525 number compare
- 48 Lao People's Democratic Republic 686,699 number compare
- 49 Spain 622,751 number compare
More education data for Ecuador
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 5,078 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 288,731 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 291,075 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.79 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.72 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -2.72 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0951 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 Ecuador?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Ecuador was 850,572 number in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Ecuador?
- The highest recorded value was 885,448 number in 2011.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Ecuador?
- The lowest recorded value was 634,584 number in 2015.
- How does Ecuador rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- Ecuador ranks 46th out of 87 countries with data for 2017.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Ecuador?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ecuador 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.