Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male was 87.76 million number in 2019. ▲ Rising
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in Least developed countries, 1981–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2019, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in Least developed countries stood at 87.76 million number. That is the highest value across all 39 years on record.
The figure is up 1.4% on the previous year and up 6.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in Least developed countries peaked at 87.76 million number in 2019 and was at its lowest, 53.14 million number, in 1981.
Least developed countries ranks 11th of 38 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 39 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 53.14 million number | — |
| 1982 | 54.04 million number | +1.7% |
| 1983 | 55.05 million number | +1.9% |
| 1984 | 56.05 million number | +1.8% |
| 1985 | 57.13 million number | +1.9% |
| 1986 | 58.22 million number | +1.9% |
| 1987 | 59.27 million number | +1.8% |
| 1988 | 59.49 million number | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 60.46 million number | +1.6% |
| 1990 | 61.70 million number | +2.1% |
| 1991 | 63.54 million number | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 64.71 million number | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 66.18 million number | +2.3% |
| 1994 | 67.12 million number | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 68.28 million number | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 69.58 million number | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 70.54 million number | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 69.74 million number | -1.1% |
| 1999 | 70.33 million number | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 72.02 million number | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 73.46 million number | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 73.10 million number | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 73.90 million number | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 73.22 million number | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 76.48 million number | +4.4% |
| 2006 | 80.68 million number | +5.5% |
| 2007 | 85.46 million number | +5.9% |
| 2008 | 81.82 million number | -4.3% |
| 2009 | 82.59 million number | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 84.01 million number | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 86.39 million number | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 87.33 million number | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 86.82 million number | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 87.39 million number | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 87.11 million number | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 84.40 million number | -3.1% |
| 2017 | 85.41 million number | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 86.58 million number | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 87.76 million number | +1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 56.98 million number | 53.14 million number | 60.46 million number | 9 |
| 1990s | 67.17 million number | 61.70 million number | 70.54 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 77.27 million number | 72.02 million number | 85.46 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 86.32 million number | 84.01 million number | 87.76 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
More education data for Least developed countries
- Population ages 0-14 38.4% (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 57.7% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 4.43 million (2024)
- School enrollment, primary 100.7% (2024)
- Primary education, teachers 4.43 million (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, per capita 0.0037 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, female 99.3% (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, male 102.0% (2024)
- Labor force, total 450.68 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in Least developed countries?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in Least developed countries was 87.76 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male recorded in Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 87.76 million number in 2019.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 53.14 million number in 1981.
- How does Least developed countries rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male?
- Least developed countries ranks 11th out of 38 groups with data for 2019.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Least developed countries 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
Total number of males over age 15 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life.