Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Low income
Low income: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 151.87 million number in 2019. ▲ Rising
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Low income, 1988–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
Low income recorded 151.87 million number for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in 2019. That is the highest value across all 32 years on record.
The figure is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 13.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Low income peaked at 151.87 million number in 2019 and was at its lowest, 85.17 million number, in 1988.
That places Low income 18th out of 39 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 32 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Low income, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 85.17 million number | — |
| 1989 | 86.90 million number | +2.0% |
| 1990 | 88.70 million number | +2.1% |
| 1991 | 91.00 million number | +2.6% |
| 1992 | 93.42 million number | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 95.81 million number | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 97.86 million number | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 100.49 million number | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 102.42 million number | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 103.69 million number | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 105.16 million number | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 106.90 million number | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 109.19 million number | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 110.62 million number | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 112.35 million number | +1.6% |
| 2003 | 114.57 million number | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 114.15 million number | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 119.65 million number | +4.8% |
| 2006 | 128.08 million number | +7.1% |
| 2007 | 128.34 million number | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 131.10 million number | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 133.52 million number | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 136.28 million number | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 134.34 million number | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 136.77 million number | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 137.70 million number | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 140.41 million number | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 142.75 million number | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 144.45 million number | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 145.95 million number | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 148.96 million number | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 151.87 million number | +2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 86.04 million number | 85.17 million number | 86.90 million number | 2 |
| 1990s | 98.55 million number | 88.70 million number | 106.90 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 120.16 million number | 109.19 million number | 133.52 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 141.95 million number | 134.34 million number | 151.87 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Low income
- 15 Nepal 6.28 million number compare
- 16 Tanzania, United Republic of 6.24 million number compare
- 17 Mozambique 6.18 million number compare
- 18 Chad 5.90 million number compare
- 19 Algeria 5.48 million number compare
- 20 Uganda 5.32 million number compare
- 21 South Africa 5.23 million number compare
More education data for Low income
- Population ages 15-64 55.8% (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 112.44 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 43.24 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.02 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 40.9% (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1505 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 2.88 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Low income?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Low income was 151.87 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Low income?
- The highest recorded value was 151.87 million number in 2019.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Low income?
- The lowest recorded value was 85.17 million number in 1988.
- How does Low income rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- Low income ranks 18th out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Low income?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Low income 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.