Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 220.62 million number in 2019. ▲ Rising
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1985–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2019, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 220.62 million number. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.9% on the previous year and up 11.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 220.62 million number in 2019 and was at its lowest, 122.60 million number, in 1985.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 13th of 39 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 122.60 million number | — |
| 1986 | 125.02 million number | +2.0% |
| 1987 | 126.88 million number | +1.5% |
| 1988 | 129.20 million number | +1.8% |
| 1989 | 131.57 million number | +1.8% |
| 1990 | 133.75 million number | +1.7% |
| 1991 | 136.37 million number | +2.0% |
| 1992 | 139.09 million number | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 141.47 million number | +1.7% |
| 1994 | 143.41 million number | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 146.89 million number | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 148.70 million number | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 149.99 million number | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 151.99 million number | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 153.50 million number | +1.0% |
| 2000 | 162.62 million number | +5.9% |
| 2001 | 163.58 million number | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 166.02 million number | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 168.90 million number | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 167.18 million number | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 176.25 million number | +5.4% |
| 2006 | 175.57 million number | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 191.56 million number | +9.1% |
| 2008 | 196.55 million number | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 198.55 million number | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 201.58 million number | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 199.48 million number | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 199.36 million number | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 200.94 million number | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 203.30 million number | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 206.16 million number | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 208.26 million number | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 213.24 million number | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 216.58 million number | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 220.62 million number | +1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 127.05 million number | 122.60 million number | 131.57 million number | 5 |
| 1990s | 144.52 million number | 133.75 million number | 153.50 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 176.68 million number | 162.62 million number | 198.55 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 206.95 million number | 199.36 million number | 220.62 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 10 Indonesia 8.53 million number compare
- 11 Côte d'Ivoire 7.69 million number compare
- 12 Morocco 6.88 million number compare
- 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
More education data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 5.14 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 81.43 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 196.80 million (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 40.4% (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.9738 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 56.4% (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1526 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa was 220.62 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 220.62 million number in 2019.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 122.60 million number in 1985.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 13th out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa 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.