Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)
Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC): Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 172.68 million number in 2019. ▲ Rising
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC), 1986–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) is 172.68 million number, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 10.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) peaked at 172.68 million number in 2019 and was at its lowest, 97.72 million number, in 1986.
Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) ranks 17th of 39 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC), year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 97.72 million number | — |
| 1987 | 99.16 million number | +1.5% |
| 1988 | 101.17 million number | +2.0% |
| 1989 | 103.09 million number | +1.9% |
| 1990 | 105.19 million number | +2.0% |
| 1991 | 107.86 million number | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 110.59 million number | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 113.32 million number | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 115.61 million number | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 119.36 million number | +3.2% |
| 1996 | 121.52 million number | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 122.98 million number | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 124.76 million number | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 126.44 million number | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 127.95 million number | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 129.67 million number | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 132.05 million number | +1.8% |
| 2003 | 133.95 million number | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 133.74 million number | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 140.23 million number | +4.9% |
| 2006 | 149.16 million number | +6.4% |
| 2007 | 148.71 million number | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 152.46 million number | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 156.47 million number | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 158.43 million number | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 156.12 million number | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 156.50 million number | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 158.04 million number | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 159.88 million number | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 163.13 million number | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 165.07 million number | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 166.64 million number | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 169.90 million number | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 172.68 million number | +1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 100.28 million number | 97.72 million number | 103.09 million number | 4 |
| 1990s | 116.76 million number | 105.19 million number | 126.44 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 140.44 million number | 127.95 million number | 156.47 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 162.64 million number | 156.12 million number | 172.68 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)
- 14 Burkina Faso 6.39 million number compare
- 15 Nepal 6.28 million number compare
- 16 Tanzania, United Republic of 6.24 million number compare
- 17 Mozambique 6.18 million number compare
- 18 Chad 5.90 million number compare
- 19 Algeria 5.48 million number compare
- 20 Uganda 5.32 million number compare
More education data for Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 3.67 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 55.15 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 148.37 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.27 % 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 0.1578 units per person (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 55.7% (2025)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 41.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) was 172.68 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)?
- The highest recorded value was 172.68 million number in 2019.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)?
- The lowest recorded value was 97.72 million number in 1986.
- How does Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) ranks 17th out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) 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.