Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
SDG: Sub-saharan Africa: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female was 136.06 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
136.06 million
Change on year
up 2.1%
Rank
46th
of 203 groups
All-time high
136.06 million
in 2024
All-time low
80.22 million
in 1990
Years of data
36
1989–2024
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1989–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa is 136.06 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.1% on the previous year and up 14.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 136.06 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 80.22 million, in 1990.
That places SDG: Sub-saharan Africa 46th 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 SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 81.29 million | — |
| 1990 | 80.22 million | -1.3% |
| 1991 | 81.96 million | +2.2% |
| 1992 | 83.35 million | +1.7% |
| 1993 | 84.58 million | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 85.64 million | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 87.63 million | +2.3% |
| 1996 | 88.71 million | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 89.22 million | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 90.38 million | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 91.40 million | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 96.86 million | +6.0% |
| 2001 | 97.83 million | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 100.20 million | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 101.55 million | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 103.13 million | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 106.67 million | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 110.42 million | +3.5% |
| 2007 | 113.13 million | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 115.41 million | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 117.56 million | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 118.67 million | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 117.09 million | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 117.06 million | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 118.33 million | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 119.22 million | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 120.49 million | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 121.66 million | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 123.69 million | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 120.79 million | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 121.83 million | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 124.72 million | +2.4% |
| 2021 | 128.44 million | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 130.74 million | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 133.23 million | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 136.06 million | +2.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 81.29 million | 81.29 million | 81.29 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 86.31 million | 80.22 million | 91.40 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 106.28 million | 96.86 million | 117.56 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 119.88 million | 117.06 million | 123.69 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 130.64 million | 124.72 million | 136.06 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
More education data for SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 191.30 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.31 % change on previous year (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 14.32 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.68 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 37.60 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 12.63 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 12.47 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.8202 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 4.94 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 97.68 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa was 136.06 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 136.06 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 80.22 million in 1990.
- How does SDG: Sub-saharan Africa rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female?
- SDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 46th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female rising or falling in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this SDG: 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