Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Latin America & Caribbean
Latin America & Caribbean: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 27.97 million number in 2019. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Latin America & Caribbean, 1974–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2019, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Latin America & Caribbean stood at 27.97 million number. That is the lowest value across all 46 years on record.
That represents a change of down 5.7% on the previous year and down 19.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Latin America & Caribbean peaked at 43.97 million number in 1987 and was at its lowest, 27.97 million number, in 2019.
That places Latin America & Caribbean 29th out of 39 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 46 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Latin America & Caribbean, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 38.87 million number | — |
| 1975 | 40.01 million number | +2.9% |
| 1976 | 40.49 million number | +1.2% |
| 1977 | 40.87 million number | +0.9% |
| 1978 | 41.17 million number | +0.7% |
| 1979 | 41.53 million number | +0.9% |
| 1980 | 41.92 million number | +0.9% |
| 1981 | 42.24 million number | +0.8% |
| 1982 | 42.57 million number | +0.8% |
| 1983 | 42.84 million number | +0.6% |
| 1984 | 43.11 million number | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 43.38 million number | +0.6% |
| 1986 | 43.60 million number | +0.5% |
| 1987 | 43.97 million number | +0.8% |
| 1988 | 43.77 million number | -0.4% |
| 1989 | 43.66 million number | -0.3% |
| 1990 | 43.77 million number | +0.3% |
| 1991 | 43.23 million number | -1.2% |
| 1992 | 42.43 million number | -1.9% |
| 1993 | 41.54 million number | -2.1% |
| 1994 | 40.77 million number | -1.8% |
| 1995 | 39.82 million number | -2.3% |
| 1996 | 39.69 million number | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 39.64 million number | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 38.92 million number | -1.8% |
| 1999 | 38.75 million number | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 38.72 million number | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 39.18 million number | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 39.56 million number | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 37.48 million number | -5.2% |
| 2004 | 38.27 million number | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 37.13 million number | -3.0% |
| 2006 | 37.75 million number | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 36.13 million number | -4.3% |
| 2008 | 35.84 million number | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 34.91 million number | -2.6% |
| 2010 | 35.65 million number | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 33.70 million number | -5.5% |
| 2012 | 33.28 million number | -1.3% |
| 2013 | 33.61 million number | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 32.15 million number | -4.3% |
| 2015 | 31.80 million number | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 30.10 million number | -5.3% |
| 2017 | 29.98 million number | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 29.66 million number | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 27.97 million number | -5.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 40.49 million number | 38.87 million number | 41.53 million number | 6 |
| 1980s | 43.11 million number | 41.92 million number | 43.97 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 40.86 million number | 38.75 million number | 43.77 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 37.50 million number | 34.91 million number | 39.56 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.79 million number | 27.97 million number | 35.65 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Latin America & Caribbean
More education data for Latin America & Caribbean
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 3.34 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 63.30 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 61.44 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.1923 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0928 units per person (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 67.7% (2025)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 22.1% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Latin America & Caribbean?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Latin America & Caribbean was 27.97 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Latin America & Caribbean?
- The highest recorded value was 43.97 million number in 1987.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Latin America & Caribbean?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.97 million number in 2019.
- How does Latin America & Caribbean rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- Latin America & Caribbean ranks 29th out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Latin America & Caribbean?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Latin America & Caribbean 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.