Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 221.02 million number in 2019. ▲ Rising
Latest (2019)
221.02 million number
Change on year
up 1.2%
Rank
12th
of 39 groups
All-time high
221.02 million number
in 2019
All-time low
132.18 million number
in 1981
Years of data
39
1981–2019
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Least developed countries, 1981–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
Least developed countries recorded 221.02 million number for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in 2019. That is the highest value across all 39 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.2% on the previous year and up 5.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Least developed countries peaked at 221.02 million number in 2019 and was at its lowest, 132.18 million number, in 1981.
Least developed countries ranks 12th of 39 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 39 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 132.18 million number | — |
| 1982 | 134.55 million number | +1.8% |
| 1983 | 137.07 million number | +1.9% |
| 1984 | 139.58 million number | +1.8% |
| 1985 | 142.27 million number | +1.9% |
| 1986 | 144.92 million number | +1.9% |
| 1987 | 147.55 million number | +1.8% |
| 1988 | 149.27 million number | +1.2% |
| 1989 | 152.03 million number | +1.9% |
| 1990 | 155.05 million number | +2.0% |
| 1991 | 159.07 million number | +2.6% |
| 1992 | 162.28 million number | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 165.83 million number | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 168.06 million number | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 170.87 million number | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 173.82 million number | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 176.12 million number | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 175.63 million number | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 177.55 million number | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 180.78 million number | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 183.32 million number | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 185.81 million number | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 187.83 million number | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 187.89 million number | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 194.27 million number | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 203.64 million number | +4.8% |
| 2007 | 210.86 million number | +3.5% |
| 2008 | 206.40 million number | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 208.94 million number | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 212.16 million number | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 217.18 million number | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 219.33 million number | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 218.47 million number | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 220.41 million number | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 219.66 million number | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 214.22 million number | -2.5% |
| 2017 | 215.86 million number | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 218.38 million number | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 221.02 million number | +1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 142.16 million number | 132.18 million number | 152.03 million number | 9 |
| 1990s | 168.43 million number | 155.05 million number | 177.55 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 194.97 million number | 180.78 million number | 210.86 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 217.67 million number | 212.16 million number | 221.02 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
- 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
- 15 Nepal 6.28 million number compare
More education data for Least developed countries
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 4.43 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.04 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 171.01 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1441 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 38.4% (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 57.7% (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 75.92 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Least developed countries?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Least developed countries was 221.02 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 221.02 million number in 2019.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 132.18 million number in 1981.
- How does Least developed countries rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- Least developed countries ranks 12th out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Least developed countries 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.