Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Mali
Mali: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 6.42 million number in 2018. ▲ Rising
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Mali, 1976–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Mali is 6.42 million number, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.
That represents a change of up 6.3% on the previous year and up 24.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Mali peaked at 6.42 million number in 2018 and was at its lowest, 3.38 million number, in 1976.
Mali ranks 13th of 87 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Mali, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 3.38 million number | — |
| 1998 | 4.47 million number | +32.1% |
| 2003 | 4.84 million number | +8.3% |
| 2006 | 5.15 million number | +6.3% |
| 2010 | 5.40 million number | +5.0% |
| 2011 | 5.60 million number | +3.6% |
| 2015 | 6.04 million number | +8.0% |
| 2018 | 6.42 million number | +6.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.38 million number | 3.38 million number | 3.38 million number | 1 |
| 1990s | 4.47 million number | 4.47 million number | 4.47 million number | 1 |
| 2000s | 4.99 million number | 4.84 million number | 5.15 million number | 2 |
| 2010s | 5.86 million number | 5.40 million number | 6.42 million number | 4 |
Countries ranked near Mali
- 10 Indonesia 8.53 million number compare
- 11 Côte d'Ivoire 7.69 million number compare
- 12 Morocco 6.88 million number compare
- 14 Burkina Faso 6.39 million number compare
- 15 Nepal 6.28 million number compare
- 16 Tanzania, United Republic of 6.24 million number compare
More education data for Mali
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 83,509 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.31 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.97 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -2.42 % change on previous year (2018)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1251 units per person (2023)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.97 million (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -2.42 % change on previous year (2018)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Mali?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Mali was 6.42 million number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Mali?
- The highest recorded value was 6.42 million number in 2018.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Mali?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.38 million number in 1976.
- How does Mali rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- Mali ranks 13th out of 87 countries with data for 2018.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Mali?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Mali 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.