Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Europe & Central Asia
Europe & Central Asia: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 12.22 million number in 2019. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Europe & Central Asia, 1994–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Europe & Central Asia is 12.22 million number, measured in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.5% on the previous year and down 35.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Europe & Central Asia peaked at 28.92 million number in 1994 and was at its lowest, 12.22 million number, in 2019.
That places Europe & Central Asia 32nd out of 39 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Europe & Central Asia, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 28.92 million number | — |
| 1995 | 28.14 million number | -2.7% |
| 1996 | 27.21 million number | -3.3% |
| 1997 | 26.50 million number | -2.6% |
| 1998 | 25.62 million number | -3.3% |
| 1999 | 24.97 million number | -2.5% |
| 2000 | 24.71 million number | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 24.18 million number | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 23.12 million number | -4.4% |
| 2003 | 22.63 million number | -2.1% |
| 2004 | 21.96 million number | -3.0% |
| 2005 | 22.07 million number | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 21.10 million number | -4.4% |
| 2007 | 21.13 million number | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 19.99 million number | -5.4% |
| 2009 | 18.90 million number | -5.5% |
| 2010 | 17.78 million number | -5.9% |
| 2011 | 15.53 million number | -12.7% |
| 2012 | 14.81 million number | -4.6% |
| 2013 | 14.34 million number | -3.2% |
| 2014 | 14.03 million number | -2.1% |
| 2015 | 13.71 million number | -2.3% |
| 2016 | 13.08 million number | -4.6% |
| 2017 | 12.99 million number | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 12.53 million number | -3.6% |
| 2019 | 12.22 million number | -2.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 26.89 million number | 24.97 million number | 28.92 million number | 6 |
| 2000s | 21.98 million number | 18.90 million number | 24.71 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.10 million number | 12.22 million number | 17.78 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Europe & Central Asia
More education data for Europe & Central Asia
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 3.52 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 83.79 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 52.35 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.0527 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0564 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 64.3% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 17.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Europe & Central Asia?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Europe & Central Asia was 12.22 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?
- The highest recorded value was 28.92 million number in 1994.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Europe & Central Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.22 million number in 2019.
- How does Europe & Central Asia rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- Europe & Central Asia ranks 32nd out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Europe & Central Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 35.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Europe & Central Asia 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.