Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in IDA only
IDA only: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 230.73 million number in 2019. ▲ Rising
Latest (2019)
230.73 million number
Change on year
up 1.1%
Rank
11th
of 39 groups
All-time high
230.73 million number
in 2019
All-time low
142.16 million number
in 1982
Years of data
38
1982–2019
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in IDA only, 1982–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2019, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in IDA only stood at 230.73 million number. That is the highest value across all 38 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.1% on the previous year and up 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in IDA only peaked at 230.73 million number in 2019 and was at its lowest, 142.16 million number, in 1982.
IDA only ranks 11th of 39 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 38 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in IDA only, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 142.16 million number | — |
| 1983 | 144.92 million number | +1.9% |
| 1984 | 147.62 million number | +1.9% |
| 1985 | 150.49 million number | +1.9% |
| 1986 | 153.29 million number | +1.9% |
| 1987 | 156.07 million number | +1.8% |
| 1988 | 157.83 million number | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 160.83 million number | +1.9% |
| 1990 | 164.01 million number | +2.0% |
| 1991 | 168.18 million number | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 171.57 million number | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 175.29 million number | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 177.70 million number | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 181.38 million number | +2.1% |
| 1996 | 184.45 million number | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 186.84 million number | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 186.32 million number | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 188.41 million number | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 190.66 million number | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 193.19 million number | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 195.22 million number | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 197.57 million number | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 197.66 million number | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 204.03 million number | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 213.41 million number | +4.6% |
| 2007 | 219.87 million number | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 215.34 million number | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 219.59 million number | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 222.24 million number | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 227.10 million number | +2.2% |
| 2012 | 229.33 million number | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 228.35 million number | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 229.95 million number | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 229.22 million number | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 223.74 million number | -2.4% |
| 2017 | 225.40 million number | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 228.13 million number | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 230.73 million number | +1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 151.65 million number | 142.16 million number | 160.83 million number | 8 |
| 1990s | 178.42 million number | 164.01 million number | 188.41 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 204.65 million number | 190.66 million number | 219.87 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 227.42 million number | 222.24 million number | 230.73 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near IDA only
- 8 Brazil 11.17 million number compare
- 9 Iran, Islamic Republic of 8.70 million number compare
- 10 Indonesia 8.53 million number compare
- 11 Côte d'Ivoire 7.69 million number compare
- 12 Morocco 6.88 million number compare
- 13 Mali 6.42 million number compare
- 14 Burkina Faso 6.39 million number compare
More education data for IDA only
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.9749 % change on previous year (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 58.4% (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 182.50 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 5.00 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1438 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 87.10 million (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 37.5% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in IDA only?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in IDA only was 230.73 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in IDA only?
- The highest recorded value was 230.73 million number in 2019.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in IDA only?
- The lowest recorded value was 142.16 million number in 1982.
- How does IDA only rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- IDA only ranks 11th out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in IDA only?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this IDA 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.