Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in IDA total
IDA total: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 344.25 million number in 2019. ▲ Rising
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in IDA total, 1981–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in IDA total is 344.25 million number, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 39 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 7.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in IDA total peaked at 344.25 million number in 2019 and was at its lowest, 202.37 million number, in 1981.
That places IDA total 10th out of 39 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 39 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in IDA total, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 202.37 million number | — |
| 1982 | 206.25 million number | +1.9% |
| 1983 | 210.56 million number | +2.1% |
| 1984 | 214.87 million number | +2.0% |
| 1985 | 219.39 million number | +2.1% |
| 1986 | 223.70 million number | +2.0% |
| 1987 | 227.56 million number | +1.7% |
| 1988 | 230.41 million number | +1.3% |
| 1989 | 234.73 million number | +1.9% |
| 1990 | 239.03 million number | +1.8% |
| 1991 | 243.71 million number | +2.0% |
| 1992 | 246.63 million number | +1.2% |
| 1993 | 249.63 million number | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 252.82 million number | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 257.33 million number | +1.8% |
| 1996 | 260.98 million number | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 264.10 million number | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 263.99 million number | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 267.09 million number | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 277.89 million number | +4.0% |
| 2001 | 280.92 million number | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 283.90 million number | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 287.11 million number | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 287.12 million number | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 297.20 million number | +3.5% |
| 2006 | 295.29 million number | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 320.82 million number | +8.6% |
| 2008 | 316.40 million number | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 320.54 million number | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 324.74 million number | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 331.96 million number | +2.2% |
| 2012 | 332.97 million number | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 335.17 million number | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 337.00 million number | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 337.80 million number | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 332.88 million number | -1.5% |
| 2017 | 334.61 million number | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 340.16 million number | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 344.25 million number | +1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 218.87 million number | 202.37 million number | 234.73 million number | 9 |
| 1990s | 254.53 million number | 239.03 million number | 267.09 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 296.72 million number | 277.89 million number | 320.82 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 335.15 million number | 324.74 million number | 344.25 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near IDA total
More education data for IDA total
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 7.15 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 263.89 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.06 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 58.4% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 37.6% (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 135.69 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1356 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in IDA total?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in IDA total was 344.25 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in IDA total?
- The highest recorded value was 344.25 million number in 2019.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in IDA total?
- The lowest recorded value was 202.37 million number in 1981.
- How does IDA total rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- IDA total ranks 10th out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in IDA total?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this IDA total 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.