Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Pre-demographic dividend
Pre-demographic dividend: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 199.97 million number in 2019. ▲ Rising
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Pre-demographic dividend, 1986–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
Pre-demographic dividend recorded 199.97 million number for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in 2019. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.8% on the previous year and up 11.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Pre-demographic dividend peaked at 199.97 million number in 2019 and was at its lowest, 104.14 million number, in 1986.
That places Pre-demographic dividend 16th 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 34 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Pre-demographic dividend, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 104.14 million number | — |
| 1987 | 105.23 million number | +1.0% |
| 1988 | 106.82 million number | +1.5% |
| 1989 | 108.34 million number | +1.4% |
| 1990 | 110.16 million number | +1.7% |
| 1991 | 112.12 million number | +1.8% |
| 1992 | 114.97 million number | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 117.28 million number | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 119.60 million number | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 122.45 million number | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 124.01 million number | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 124.86 million number | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 126.44 million number | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 127.51 million number | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 136.01 million number | +6.7% |
| 2001 | 137.01 million number | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 139.08 million number | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 141.98 million number | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 143.35 million number | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 149.48 million number | +4.3% |
| 2006 | 148.75 million number | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 166.89 million number | +12.2% |
| 2008 | 171.83 million number | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 179.73 million number | +4.6% |
| 2010 | 182.59 million number | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 180.95 million number | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 175.66 million number | -2.9% |
| 2013 | 178.54 million number | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 179.25 million number | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 189.53 million number | +5.7% |
| 2016 | 184.38 million number | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 185.68 million number | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 196.49 million number | +5.8% |
| 2019 | 199.97 million number | +1.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 106.13 million number | 104.14 million number | 108.34 million number | 4 |
| 1990s | 119.94 million number | 110.16 million number | 127.51 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 151.41 million number | 136.01 million number | 179.73 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 185.30 million number | 175.66 million number | 199.97 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Pre-demographic dividend
- 13 Mali 6.42 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
- 17 Mozambique 6.18 million number compare
- 18 Chad 5.90 million number compare
- 19 Algeria 5.48 million number compare
More education data for Pre-demographic dividend
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 175.74 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.12 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1591 units per person (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 55.5% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 4.66 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 70.08 million (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 41.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Pre-demographic dividend?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Pre-demographic dividend was 199.97 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Pre-demographic dividend?
- The highest recorded value was 199.97 million number in 2019.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Pre-demographic dividend?
- The lowest recorded value was 104.14 million number in 1986.
- How does Pre-demographic dividend rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- Pre-demographic dividend ranks 16th out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Pre-demographic dividend?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Pre-demographic dividend 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.