Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Spain
Spain: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 622,751 number in 2018. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Spain, 1981–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Spain is 622,751 number, measured in 2018. That is the lowest value across all 16 years on record.
The figure is down 10.5% on the previous year and down 33.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Spain peaked at 2.03 million number in 1981 and was at its lowest, 622,751 number, in 2018.
That places Spain 49th out of 87 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 16 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Spain, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 2.03 million number | — |
| 1991 | 1.11 million number | -45.3% |
| 2004 | 1.05 million number | -5.3% |
| 2005 | 847,753 number | -19.4% |
| 2006 | 860,606 number | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 802,109 number | -6.8% |
| 2008 | 931,368 number | +16.1% |
| 2009 | 921,203 number | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 899,346 number | -2.4% |
| 2011 | 886,547 number | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 841,414 number | -5.1% |
| 2013 | 766,767 number | -8.9% |
| 2014 | 758,861 number | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 737,614 number | -2.8% |
| 2016 | 695,469 number | -5.7% |
| 2018 | 622,751 number | -10.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.03 million number | 2.03 million number | 2.03 million number | 1 |
| 1990s | 1.11 million number | 1.11 million number | 1.11 million number | 1 |
| 2000s | 902,495 number | 802,109 number | 1.05 million number | 6 |
| 2010s | 776,096 number | 622,751 number | 899,346 number | 8 |
Countries ranked near Spain
- 46 Ecuador 850,572 number compare
- 47 Honduras 837,525 number compare
- 48 Lao People's Democratic Republic 686,699 number compare
- 50 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 615,388 number compare
- 51 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 547,921 number compare
- 52 Chile 530,956 number compare
More education data for Spain
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 538,977 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.71 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.83 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.08 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.058 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.83 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -1.08 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Spain?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Spain was 622,751 number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 2.03 million number in 1981.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 622,751 number in 2018.
- How does Spain rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- Spain ranks 49th out of 87 countries with data for 2018.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Spain 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.