Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Philippines
Philippines: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 1.26 million number in 2015. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Philippines, 1980–2015
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Philippines is 1.26 million number, measured in 2015. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.
That represents a change of down 47.3% on the previous year and down 67.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Philippines peaked at 4.49 million number in 1980 and was at its lowest, 1.26 million number, in 2015.
Philippines ranks 43rd of 87 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Philippines, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 4.49 million number | — |
| 1990 | 2.35 million number | -47.7% |
| 1994 | 2.49 million number | +5.9% |
| 2000 | 3.55 million number | +42.8% |
| 2003 | 3.83 million number | +7.8% |
| 2008 | 2.69 million number | -29.7% |
| 2013 | 2.39 million number | -11.3% |
| 2015 | 1.26 million number | -47.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4.49 million number | 4.49 million number | 4.49 million number | 1 |
| 1990s | 2.42 million number | 2.35 million number | 2.49 million number | 2 |
| 2000s | 3.36 million number | 2.69 million number | 3.83 million number | 3 |
| 2010s | 1.82 million number | 1.26 million number | 2.39 million number | 2 |
Countries ranked near Philippines
More education data for Philippines
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 201,568 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.06 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 983,812 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 11.87 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 13.06 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.8345 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1128 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Philippines?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Philippines was 1.26 million number in 2015, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Philippines?
- The highest recorded value was 4.49 million number in 1980.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Philippines?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.26 million number in 2015.
- How does Philippines rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- Philippines ranks 43rd out of 87 countries with data for 2015.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Philippines?
- Over the last ten years it is down 67.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Philippines 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 8 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.