Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in WB: Africa Western and Central
WB: Africa Western and Central: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male was 46.25 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
46.25 million
Change on year
up 2.9%
Rank
68th
of 203 groups
All-time high
46.25 million
in 2024
All-time low
24.64 million
in 1990
Years of data
36
1989–2024
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in WB: Africa Western and Central, 1989–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in WB: Africa Western and Central stood at 46.25 million. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 2.9% on the previous year and up 15.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in WB: Africa Western and Central peaked at 46.25 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 24.64 million, in 1990.
That places WB: Africa Western and Central 68th out of 203 groups with data for 2024, putting it 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, male in WB: Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 25.02 million | — |
| 1990 | 24.64 million | -1.5% |
| 1991 | 24.93 million | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 25.28 million | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 25.63 million | +1.4% |
| 1994 | 25.93 million | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 26.80 million | +3.4% |
| 1996 | 27.18 million | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 27.40 million | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 27.18 million | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 27.56 million | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 30.06 million | +9.1% |
| 2001 | 30.11 million | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 30.56 million | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 31.28 million | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 30.91 million | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 31.89 million | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 32.44 million | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 35.71 million | +10.1% |
| 2008 | 36.48 million | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 37.37 million | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 38.37 million | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 38.64 million | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 39.23 million | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 39.51 million | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 40.19 million | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 40.54 million | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 41.48 million | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 41.57 million | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 38.98 million | -6.2% |
| 2019 | 40.72 million | +4.5% |
| 2020 | 41.91 million | +2.9% |
| 2021 | 42.92 million | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 43.91 million | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 44.96 million | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 46.25 million | +2.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 25.02 million | 25.02 million | 25.02 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 26.25 million | 24.64 million | 27.56 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 32.68 million | 30.06 million | 37.37 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 39.92 million | 38.37 million | 41.57 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 43.99 million | 41.91 million | 46.25 million | 5 |
More education data for WB: Africa Western and Central
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 4.61 million (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 7.4 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.89 million (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.08 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.08 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.7294 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.00 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 6.08 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.09 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 18.05 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in WB: Africa Western and Central was 46.25 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male recorded in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 46.25 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male recorded in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.64 million in 1990.
- How does WB: Africa Western and Central rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male?
- WB: Africa Western and Central ranks 68th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male rising or falling in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this WB: Africa Western and Central data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release