Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa
MDG: Sub-saharan Africa: Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes was 53.94 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
53.94 million
Change on year
up 1.7%
Rank
18th
of 204 groups
All-time high
53.94 million
in 2024
All-time low
31.49 million
in 1985
Years of data
40
1985–2024
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1985–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa stood at 53.94 million. That is the highest value across all 40 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.7% on the previous year and up 9.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 53.94 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 31.49 million, in 1985.
That places MDG: Sub-saharan Africa 18th out of 204 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 40 years of available data.
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 31.49 million | — |
| 1986 | 32.17 million | +2.1% |
| 1987 | 32.56 million | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 33.24 million | +2.1% |
| 1989 | 33.70 million | +1.4% |
| 1990 | 34.17 million | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 34.90 million | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 35.88 million | +2.8% |
| 1993 | 36.55 million | +1.8% |
| 1994 | 37.15 million | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 38.45 million | +3.5% |
| 1996 | 39.13 million | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 39.54 million | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 40.58 million | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 40.88 million | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 44.36 million | +8.5% |
| 2001 | 44.86 million | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 44.36 million | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 45.31 million | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 45.70 million | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 47.64 million | +4.3% |
| 2006 | 50.29 million | +5.6% |
| 2007 | 51.40 million | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 52.26 million | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 52.99 million | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 52.72 million | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 50.48 million | -4.3% |
| 2012 | 49.19 million | -2.6% |
| 2013 | 48.70 million | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 49.10 million | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 49.17 million | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 49.40 million | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 49.59 million | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 48.13 million | -2.9% |
| 2019 | 49.06 million | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 50.20 million | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 51.18 million | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 52.10 million | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 53.05 million | +1.8% |
| 2024 | 53.94 million | +1.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 32.63 million | 31.49 million | 33.70 million | 5 |
| 1990s | 37.72 million | 34.17 million | 40.88 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 47.92 million | 44.36 million | 52.99 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 49.55 million | 48.13 million | 52.72 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 52.09 million | 50.20 million | 53.94 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near MDG: Sub-saharan Africa
More education data for MDG: Sub-saharan Africa
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 5.90 million (2021)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 39.14 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.62 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 42.42 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.27 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 26.38 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 1.59 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 3.52 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 3.88 % change on previous year (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.60 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa was 53.94 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 53.94 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.49 million in 1985.
- How does MDG: Sub-saharan Africa rank for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes?
- MDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 18th out of 204 groups with data for 2024.
- Is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes rising or falling in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this MDG: Sub-saharan Africa 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