Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 30.15 million number in 2017. ▲ Rising
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Ethiopia, 1994–2017
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2017, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Ethiopia stood at 30.15 million number. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is up 13.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Ethiopia peaked at 30.15 million number in 2017 and was at its lowest, 21.46 million number, in 1994.
That places Ethiopia 5th out of 87 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the top 10%.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 21.46 million number | — |
| 2004 | 25.31 million number | +18.0% |
| 2005 | 28.68 million number | +13.3% |
| 2007 | 26.59 million number | -7.3% |
| 2017 | 30.15 million number | +13.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 21.46 million number | 21.46 million number | 21.46 million number | 1 |
| 2000s | 26.86 million number | 25.31 million number | 28.68 million number | 3 |
| 2010s | 30.15 million number | 30.15 million number | 30.15 million number | 1 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More education data for Ethiopia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 272,545 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 900,151 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.32 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.16 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 5.03 million (2015)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 15.93 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.45 % 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 0.1206 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Ethiopia?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Ethiopia was 30.15 million number in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 30.15 million number in 2017.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.46 million number in 1994.
- How does Ethiopia rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- Ethiopia ranks 5th out of 87 countries with data for 2017.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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.