Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in World
World: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 772.64 million number in 2019. ▼ Falling
Latest (2019)
772.64 million number
Change on year
down 0.4%
Rank
1st
of 39 groups
All-time high
938.85 million number
in 1987
All-time low
767.65 million number
in 2017
Years of data
44
1976–2019
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in World, 1976–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in World is 772.64 million number, measured in 2019.
That represents a change of down 0.4% on the previous year and down 5.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in World peaked at 938.85 million number in 1987 and was at its lowest, 767.65 million number, in 2017.
World ranks 1st of 39 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 44 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in World, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 867.23 million number | — |
| 1977 | 881.54 million number | +1.6% |
| 1978 | 888.75 million number | +0.8% |
| 1979 | 896.62 million number | +0.9% |
| 1980 | 909.14 million number | +1.4% |
| 1981 | 913.70 million number | +0.5% |
| 1982 | 919.16 million number | +0.6% |
| 1983 | 923.35 million number | +0.5% |
| 1984 | 927.51 million number | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 933.35 million number | +0.6% |
| 1986 | 938.57 million number | +0.6% |
| 1987 | 938.85 million number | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 900.67 million number | -4.1% |
| 1989 | 904.40 million number | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 915.21 million number | +1.2% |
| 1991 | 911.54 million number | -0.4% |
| 1992 | 911.80 million number | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 912.87 million number | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 913.52 million number | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 914.07 million number | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 915.19 million number | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 849.19 million number | -7.2% |
| 1998 | 815.45 million number | -4.0% |
| 1999 | 815.70 million number | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 825.27 million number | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 826.12 million number | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 823.95 million number | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 815.81 million number | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 811.81 million number | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 830.17 million number | +2.3% |
| 2006 | 826.54 million number | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 830.54 million number | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 818.34 million number | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 816.05 million number | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 808.10 million number | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 805.24 million number | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 794.41 million number | -1.3% |
| 2013 | 795.47 million number | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 783.21 million number | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 784.16 million number | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 770.15 million number | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 767.65 million number | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 775.84 million number | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 772.64 million number | -0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 883.54 million number | 867.23 million number | 896.62 million number | 4 |
| 1980s | 920.87 million number | 900.67 million number | 938.85 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 887.45 million number | 815.45 million number | 915.21 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 822.46 million number | 811.81 million number | 830.54 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 785.69 million number | 767.65 million number | 808.10 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near World
More education data for World
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 651.68 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 780.85 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.43 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0959 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 34.10 million (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 65.2% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 24.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in World?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in World was 772.64 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in World?
- The highest recorded value was 938.85 million number in 1987.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in World?
- The lowest recorded value was 767.65 million number in 2017.
- How does World rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- World ranks 1st out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in World?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this World 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
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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.