Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in MDG: Developing Regions
MDG: Developing Regions: Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes was 85.17 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
85.17 million
Change on year
down 0.8%
Rank
6th
of 204 groups
All-time high
195.32 million
in 1984
All-time low
85.17 million
in 2024
Years of data
41
1984–2024
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in MDG: Developing Regions, 1984–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in MDG: Developing Regions is 85.17 million, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 41 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 19.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in MDG: Developing Regions peaked at 195.32 million in 1984 and was at its lowest, 85.17 million, in 2024.
That places MDG: Developing Regions 6th out of 204 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 41 years of available data.
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in MDG: Developing Regions, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 195.32 million | — |
| 1985 | 194.18 million | -0.6% |
| 1986 | 193.35 million | -0.4% |
| 1987 | 189.72 million | -1.9% |
| 1988 | 185.22 million | -2.4% |
| 1989 | 181.94 million | -1.8% |
| 1990 | 178.44 million | -1.9% |
| 1991 | 175.18 million | -1.8% |
| 1992 | 171.58 million | -2.1% |
| 1993 | 168.47 million | -1.8% |
| 1994 | 164.90 million | -2.1% |
| 1995 | 161.94 million | -1.8% |
| 1996 | 159.08 million | -1.8% |
| 1997 | 150.37 million | -5.5% |
| 1998 | 142.51 million | -5.2% |
| 1999 | 139.77 million | -1.9% |
| 2000 | 140.56 million | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 140.03 million | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 137.26 million | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 134.68 million | -1.9% |
| 2004 | 133.00 million | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 132.68 million | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 137.30 million | +3.5% |
| 2007 | 134.49 million | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 130.15 million | -3.2% |
| 2009 | 128.06 million | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 123.61 million | -3.5% |
| 2011 | 119.43 million | -3.4% |
| 2012 | 115.30 million | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 109.24 million | -5.3% |
| 2014 | 106.11 million | -2.9% |
| 2015 | 102.36 million | -3.5% |
| 2016 | 99.75 million | -2.5% |
| 2017 | 97.92 million | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 97.13 million | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 88.78 million | -8.6% |
| 2020 | 88.01 million | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 87.07 million | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 86.67 million | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 85.85 million | -0.9% |
| 2024 | 85.17 million | -0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 189.95 million | 181.94 million | 195.32 million | 6 |
| 1990s | 161.22 million | 139.77 million | 178.44 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 134.82 million | 128.06 million | 140.56 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 105.96 million | 88.78 million | 123.61 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 86.55 million | 85.17 million | 88.01 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near MDG: Developing Regions
- 3 Bangladesh 2.14 million compare
- 4 Burkina Faso 2.14 million compare
- 5 Egypt 2.13 million compare
- 6 Mali 1.89 million compare
- 7 Mozambique 1.82 million compare
- 8 Uganda 1.50 million compare
- 9 Guinea 1.13 million compare
More education data for MDG: Developing Regions
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 103.13 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 9.69 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 107.13 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 1.83 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 1.69 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 18.90 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.2181 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 2.18 % change on previous year (2024)
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in general 90.6% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in MDG: Developing Regions?
- Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in MDG: Developing Regions was 85.17 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in MDG: Developing Regions?
- The highest recorded value was 195.32 million in 1984.
- What is the lowest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in MDG: Developing Regions?
- The lowest recorded value was 85.17 million in 2024.
- How does MDG: Developing Regions rank for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes?
- MDG: Developing Regions ranks 6th out of 204 groups with data for 2024.
- Is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes rising or falling in MDG: Developing Regions?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this MDG: Developing Regions data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release