Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in IBRD only
IBRD only: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 396.00 million number in 2019. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in IBRD only, 1975–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in IBRD only is 396.00 million number, measured in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is down 1.7% on the previous year and down 12.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in IBRD only peaked at 647.03 million number in 1986 and was at its lowest, 396.00 million number, in 2019.
That places IBRD only 6th out of 38 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 45 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in IBRD only, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 599.57 million number | — |
| 1976 | 612.72 million number | +2.2% |
| 1977 | 623.53 million number | +1.8% |
| 1978 | 627.00 million number | +0.6% |
| 1979 | 630.92 million number | +0.6% |
| 1980 | 639.15 million number | +1.3% |
| 1981 | 640.64 million number | +0.2% |
| 1982 | 642.62 million number | +0.3% |
| 1983 | 643.15 million number | +0.1% |
| 1984 | 643.66 million number | +0.1% |
| 1985 | 645.57 million number | +0.3% |
| 1986 | 647.03 million number | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 644.74 million number | -0.4% |
| 1988 | 608.17 million number | -5.7% |
| 1989 | 608.54 million number | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 615.79 million number | +1.2% |
| 1991 | 608.60 million number | -1.2% |
| 1992 | 605.16 million number | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 604.34 million number | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 603.03 million number | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 600.26 million number | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 598.82 million number | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 531.27 million number | -11.3% |
| 1998 | 497.78 million number | -6.3% |
| 1999 | 496.49 million number | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 495.47 million number | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 494.04 million number | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 491.35 million number | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 481.25 million number | -2.1% |
| 2004 | 478.44 million number | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 485.94 million number | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 486.82 million number | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 464.90 million number | -4.5% |
| 2008 | 459.99 million number | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 452.89 million number | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 439.77 million number | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 432.59 million number | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 421.82 million number | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 421.52 million number | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 409.95 million number | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 411.13 million number | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 402.71 million number | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 399.24 million number | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 402.73 million number | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 396.00 million number | -1.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 618.75 million number | 599.57 million number | 630.92 million number | 5 |
| 1980s | 636.33 million number | 608.17 million number | 647.03 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 576.15 million number | 496.49 million number | 615.79 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 479.11 million number | 452.89 million number | 495.47 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 413.75 million number | 396.00 million number | 439.77 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near IBRD only
More education data for IBRD only
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.94 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 21.35 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 443.80 million (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 21.4% (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 425.77 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0891 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 68.1% (2025)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in IBRD only?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in IBRD only was 396.00 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in IBRD only?
- The highest recorded value was 647.03 million number in 1986.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in IBRD only?
- The lowest recorded value was 396.00 million number in 2019.
- How does IBRD only rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- IBRD only ranks 6th out of 38 groups with data for 2019.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in IBRD only?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this IBRD only 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.