Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)
Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income): Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 3.03 million number in 2019. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income), 1983–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2019, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) stood at 3.03 million number. That is the lowest value across all 37 years on record.
The figure is down 3.2% on the previous year and down 49.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) peaked at 14.86 million number in 1983 and was at its lowest, 3.03 million number, in 2019.
Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) ranks 36th of 39 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 37 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 14.86 million number | — |
| 1984 | 13.22 million number | -11.0% |
| 1985 | 12.92 million number | -2.3% |
| 1986 | 12.82 million number | -0.8% |
| 1987 | 12.59 million number | -1.8% |
| 1988 | 12.35 million number | -1.9% |
| 1989 | 12.28 million number | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 11.97 million number | -2.5% |
| 1991 | 11.87 million number | -0.9% |
| 1992 | 11.63 million number | -2.0% |
| 1993 | 11.39 million number | -2.1% |
| 1994 | 11.15 million number | -2.1% |
| 1995 | 10.89 million number | -2.3% |
| 1996 | 10.48 million number | -3.8% |
| 1997 | 10.24 million number | -2.3% |
| 1998 | 9.37 million number | -8.5% |
| 1999 | 9.17 million number | -2.2% |
| 2000 | 8.90 million number | -2.8% |
| 2001 | 8.74 million number | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 8.57 million number | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 8.43 million number | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 8.06 million number | -4.4% |
| 2005 | 7.49 million number | -7.0% |
| 2006 | 7.66 million number | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 7.41 million number | -3.2% |
| 2008 | 7.37 million number | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 5.93 million number | -19.5% |
| 2010 | 5.00 million number | -15.7% |
| 2011 | 4.23 million number | -15.4% |
| 2012 | 3.83 million number | -9.4% |
| 2013 | 3.70 million number | -3.5% |
| 2014 | 3.61 million number | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 3.53 million number | -2.1% |
| 2016 | 3.17 million number | -10.3% |
| 2017 | 3.26 million number | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 3.13 million number | -4.2% |
| 2019 | 3.03 million number | -3.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 13.00 million number | 12.28 million number | 14.86 million number | 7 |
| 1990s | 10.82 million number | 9.17 million number | 11.97 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.86 million number | 5.93 million number | 8.90 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.65 million number | 3.03 million number | 5.00 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)
More education data for Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 15.66 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.1746 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0626 units per person (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 65.7% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 906,553 (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 22.7% (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 28.09 million (2024)
All data for Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) was 3.03 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 14.86 million number in 1983.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.03 million number in 2019.
- How does Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) ranks 36th out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 49.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) 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.