Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Late-demographic dividend
Late-demographic dividend: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 69.38 million number in 2019. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Late-demographic dividend, 1976–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Late-demographic dividend is 69.38 million number, measured in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 44 years on record.
The figure is down 4.2% on the previous year and down 27.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Late-demographic dividend peaked at 289.08 million number in 1977 and was at its lowest, 69.38 million number, in 2019.
Late-demographic dividend ranks 23rd of 39 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 44 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Late-demographic dividend, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 282.22 million number | — |
| 1977 | 289.08 million number | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 288.41 million number | -0.2% |
| 1979 | 287.76 million number | -0.2% |
| 1980 | 286.73 million number | -0.4% |
| 1981 | 286.11 million number | -0.2% |
| 1982 | 287.03 million number | +0.3% |
| 1983 | 283.56 million number | -1.2% |
| 1984 | 281.96 million number | -0.6% |
| 1985 | 280.22 million number | -0.6% |
| 1986 | 278.65 million number | -0.6% |
| 1987 | 276.25 million number | -0.9% |
| 1988 | 236.14 million number | -14.5% |
| 1989 | 233.88 million number | -1.0% |
| 1990 | 240.42 million number | +2.8% |
| 1991 | 228.49 million number | -5.0% |
| 1992 | 225.44 million number | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 222.39 million number | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 219.29 million number | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 215.49 million number | -1.7% |
| 1996 | 212.96 million number | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 143.64 million number | -32.6% |
| 1998 | 140.25 million number | -2.4% |
| 1999 | 137.49 million number | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 136.65 million number | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 132.26 million number | -3.2% |
| 2002 | 129.46 million number | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 125.46 million number | -3.1% |
| 2004 | 123.51 million number | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 119.89 million number | -2.9% |
| 2006 | 117.67 million number | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 102.01 million number | -13.3% |
| 2008 | 99.29 million number | -2.7% |
| 2009 | 95.30 million number | -4.0% |
| 2010 | 95.62 million number | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 87.41 million number | -8.6% |
| 2012 | 84.91 million number | -2.9% |
| 2013 | 84.40 million number | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 81.96 million number | -2.9% |
| 2015 | 79.85 million number | -2.6% |
| 2016 | 76.72 million number | -3.9% |
| 2017 | 74.69 million number | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 72.43 million number | -3.0% |
| 2019 | 69.38 million number | -4.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 286.87 million number | 282.22 million number | 289.08 million number | 4 |
| 1980s | 273.05 million number | 233.88 million number | 287.03 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 198.58 million number | 137.49 million number | 240.42 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 118.15 million number | 95.30 million number | 136.65 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 80.74 million number | 69.38 million number | 95.62 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Late-demographic dividend
More education data for Late-demographic dividend
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 177.18 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 173.78 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.3036 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0746 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 17.0% (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 68.9% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 10.38 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Late-demographic dividend?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Late-demographic dividend was 69.38 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Late-demographic dividend?
- The highest recorded value was 289.08 million number in 1977.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Late-demographic dividend?
- The lowest recorded value was 69.38 million number in 2019.
- How does Late-demographic dividend rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- Late-demographic dividend ranks 23rd out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Late-demographic dividend?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Late-demographic dividend 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 44 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.