Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Portugal
Portugal: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 342,869 number in 2018. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Portugal, 1981–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
Portugal recorded 342,869 number for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in 2018. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 31.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Portugal peaked at 1.51 million number in 1981 and was at its lowest, 342,869 number, in 2018.
That places Portugal 55th out of 87 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Portugal, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 1.51 million number | — |
| 1991 | 957,766 number | -36.5% |
| 2001 | 832,328 number | -13.1% |
| 2011 | 497,433 number | -40.2% |
| 2018 | 342,869 number | -31.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.51 million number | 1.51 million number | 1.51 million number | 1 |
| 1990s | 957,766 number | 957,766 number | 957,766 number | 1 |
| 2000s | 832,328 number | 832,328 number | 832,328 number | 1 |
| 2010s | 420,151 number | 342,869 number | 497,433 number | 2 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More education data for Portugal
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 82,664 (2018)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 11,380 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 136,282 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 128,743 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 741,752 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 598,661 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.89 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0566 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Portugal?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Portugal was 342,869 number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 1.51 million number in 1981.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 342,869 number in 2018.
- How does Portugal rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- Portugal ranks 55th out of 87 countries with data for 2018.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Portugal 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.