Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa
MDG: Sub-saharan Africa: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female was 142.55 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
142.55 million
Change on year
up 2.0%
Rank
35th
of 203 groups
All-time high
142.55 million
in 2024
All-time low
83.52 million
in 1990
Years of data
36
1989–2024
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1989–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
MDG: Sub-saharan Africa recorded 142.55 million for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in 2024. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 14.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 142.55 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 83.52 million, in 1990.
That places MDG: Sub-saharan Africa 35th out of 203 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 84.59 million | — |
| 1990 | 83.52 million | -1.3% |
| 1991 | 85.33 million | +2.2% |
| 1992 | 86.79 million | +1.7% |
| 1993 | 88.10 million | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 89.25 million | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 91.33 million | +2.3% |
| 1996 | 92.42 million | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 92.90 million | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 94.05 million | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 95.07 million | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 100.52 million | +5.7% |
| 2001 | 101.48 million | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 103.84 million | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 105.18 million | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 106.72 million | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 110.24 million | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 115.24 million | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 117.99 million | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 120.31 million | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 122.52 million | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 123.69 million | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 122.11 million | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 122.09 million | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 123.38 million | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 124.30 million | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 125.67 million | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 126.91 million | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 129.03 million | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 126.27 million | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 127.53 million | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 130.60 million | +2.4% |
| 2021 | 134.50 million | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 137.00 million | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 139.69 million | +2.0% |
| 2024 | 142.55 million | +2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 84.59 million | 84.59 million | 84.59 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 89.88 million | 83.52 million | 95.07 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 110.40 million | 100.52 million | 122.52 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 125.10 million | 122.09 million | 129.03 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 136.87 million | 130.60 million | 142.55 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near MDG: Sub-saharan Africa
- 32 Honduras 372,561 compare
- 33 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 313,885 compare
- 34 Saudi Arabia 308,603 compare
- 35 Jordan 304,149 compare
- 36 El Salvador 299,776 compare
- 37 Ecuador 285,112 compare
- 38 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 282,190 compare
More education data for MDG: Sub-saharan Africa
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 3.52 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 39.14 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.62 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 42.42 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.27 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 26.38 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 1.59 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 10.53 million (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.60 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 3.88 % change on previous year (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa was 142.55 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female recorded in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 142.55 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female recorded in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 83.52 million in 1990.
- How does MDG: Sub-saharan Africa rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female?
- MDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 35th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female rising or falling in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this MDG: Sub-saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release