Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)
Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries): Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 3.63 million number in 2019. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries), 1983–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2019, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) stood at 3.63 million number. That is the lowest value across all 37 years on record.
The figure is down 2.9% on the previous year and down 45.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 15.98 million number in 1983 and was at its lowest, 3.63 million number, in 2019.
Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 34th 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 (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 15.98 million number | — |
| 1984 | 14.34 million number | -10.3% |
| 1985 | 14.03 million number | -2.2% |
| 1986 | 13.92 million number | -0.8% |
| 1987 | 13.69 million number | -1.7% |
| 1988 | 13.56 million number | -0.9% |
| 1989 | 13.45 million number | -0.8% |
| 1990 | 13.11 million number | -2.5% |
| 1991 | 12.97 million number | -1.0% |
| 1992 | 12.71 million number | -2.0% |
| 1993 | 12.45 million number | -2.1% |
| 1994 | 12.18 million number | -2.2% |
| 1995 | 11.90 million number | -2.3% |
| 1996 | 11.46 million number | -3.7% |
| 1997 | 11.20 million number | -2.3% |
| 1998 | 10.29 million number | -8.1% |
| 1999 | 10.16 million number | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 9.88 million number | -2.7% |
| 2001 | 9.71 million number | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 9.52 million number | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 9.37 million number | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 8.99 million number | -4.1% |
| 2005 | 8.42 million number | -6.4% |
| 2006 | 8.57 million number | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 8.31 million number | -3.0% |
| 2008 | 8.24 million number | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 6.63 million number | -19.5% |
| 2010 | 5.69 million number | -14.2% |
| 2011 | 4.91 million number | -13.7% |
| 2012 | 4.50 million number | -8.3% |
| 2013 | 4.36 million number | -3.2% |
| 2014 | 4.27 million number | -2.2% |
| 2015 | 4.18 million number | -2.0% |
| 2016 | 3.81 million number | -8.9% |
| 2017 | 3.89 million number | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 3.74 million number | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 3.63 million number | -2.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 14.14 million number | 13.45 million number | 15.98 million number | 7 |
| 1990s | 11.84 million number | 10.16 million number | 13.11 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.76 million number | 6.63 million number | 9.88 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.30 million number | 3.63 million number | 5.69 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)
More education data for Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0567 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 26.07 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.105 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 44.41 million (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 1.45 million (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 19.8% (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 65.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) was 3.63 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 (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 15.98 million number in 1983.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.63 million number in 2019.
- How does Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 34th out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 45.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) 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.