Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Mexico
Mexico: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 4.27 million number in 2018. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Mexico, 1980–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2018, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Mexico stood at 4.27 million number. That is the lowest value across all 19 years on record.
That represents a change of down 6.5% on the previous year and down 21.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Mexico peaked at 6.59 million number in 2002 and was at its lowest, 4.27 million number, in 2018.
Mexico ranks 22nd of 87 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 19 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Mexico, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 6.36 million number | — |
| 1990 | 6.34 million number | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 6.15 million number | -3.0% |
| 2002 | 6.59 million number | +7.2% |
| 2004 | 6.38 million number | -3.2% |
| 2005 | 6.04 million number | -5.3% |
| 2006 | 6.06 million number | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 5.40 million number | -10.9% |
| 2008 | 5.42 million number | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 5.15 million number | -5.1% |
| 2010 | 5.57 million number | +8.2% |
| 2011 | 5.32 million number | -4.5% |
| 2012 | 4.81 million number | -9.6% |
| 2013 | 5.14 million number | +6.7% |
| 2014 | 4.71 million number | -8.4% |
| 2015 | 4.87 million number | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 4.60 million number | -5.6% |
| 2017 | 4.57 million number | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 4.27 million number | -6.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 6.36 million number | 6.36 million number | 6.36 million number | 1 |
| 1990s | 6.34 million number | 6.34 million number | 6.34 million number | 1 |
| 2000s | 5.90 million number | 5.15 million number | 6.59 million number | 8 |
| 2010s | 4.87 million number | 4.27 million number | 5.57 million number | 9 |
Countries ranked near Mexico
More education data for Mexico
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 868,550 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 96,349 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.14 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.11 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 13.99 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 13.19 million (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Mexico?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Mexico was 4.27 million number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Mexico?
- The highest recorded value was 6.59 million number in 2002.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Mexico?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.27 million number in 2018.
- How does Mexico rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- Mexico ranks 22nd out of 87 countries with data for 2018.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Mexico?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Mexico 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.