Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern
WB: Africa Eastern and Southern: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female was 71.73 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern, 1989–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern is 71.73 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 14.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern peaked at 71.73 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 44.72 million, in 1990.
WB: Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 67th of 203 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 45.29 million | — |
| 1990 | 44.72 million | -1.3% |
| 1991 | 46.03 million | +2.9% |
| 1992 | 46.89 million | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 47.59 million | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 48.22 million | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 49.40 million | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 49.92 million | +1.0% |
| 1997 | 49.96 million | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 50.73 million | +1.6% |
| 1999 | 51.22 million | +1.0% |
| 2000 | 51.77 million | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 52.30 million | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 53.99 million | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 54.66 million | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 55.71 million | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 58.02 million | +4.1% |
| 2006 | 62.40 million | +7.6% |
| 2007 | 62.34 million | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 63.68 million | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 64.22 million | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 64.74 million | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 62.77 million | -3.0% |
| 2012 | 61.64 million | -1.8% |
| 2013 | 62.24 million | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 62.53 million | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 63.33 million | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 63.64 million | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 65.14 million | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 65.39 million | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 64.84 million | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 66.38 million | +2.4% |
| 2021 | 68.77 million | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 69.75 million | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 70.81 million | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 71.73 million | +1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 45.29 million | 45.29 million | 45.29 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 48.47 million | 44.72 million | 51.22 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 57.91 million | 51.77 million | 64.22 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 63.63 million | 61.64 million | 65.39 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 69.49 million | 66.38 million | 71.73 million | 5 |
More education data for WB: Africa Eastern and Southern
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 20.71 million (2022)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 2.23 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 5.92 million (2021)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 1.75 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 18.88 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 2.91 % change on previous year (2022)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 23.18 million (2022)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 2.98 % change on previous year (2022)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.9717 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 46.07 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern was 71.73 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female recorded in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The highest recorded value was 71.73 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female recorded in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The lowest recorded value was 44.72 million in 1990.
- How does WB: Africa Eastern and Southern rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female?
- WB: Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 67th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female rising or falling in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this WB: Africa Eastern and Southern 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