Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in SDG: Northern Africa
SDG: Northern Africa: Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes was 4.52 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
4.52 million
Change on year
down 2.2%
Rank
106th
of 204 groups
All-time high
9.00 million
in 1983
All-time low
4.42 million
in 2015
Years of data
51
1974–2024
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in SDG: Northern Africa, 1974–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in SDG: Northern Africa stood at 4.52 million.
That represents a change of down 2.2% on the previous year and down 1.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in SDG: Northern Africa peaked at 9.00 million in 1983 and was at its lowest, 4.42 million, in 2015.
That places SDG: Northern Africa 106th out of 204 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 51 years of available data.
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in SDG: Northern Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 7.70 million | — |
| 1975 | 7.88 million | +2.3% |
| 1976 | 8.05 million | +2.1% |
| 1977 | 8.20 million | +1.9% |
| 1978 | 8.36 million | +1.9% |
| 1979 | 8.52 million | +2.0% |
| 1980 | 8.65 million | +1.4% |
| 1981 | 8.77 million | +1.5% |
| 1982 | 8.87 million | +1.1% |
| 1983 | 9.00 million | +1.5% |
| 1984 | 8.93 million | -0.8% |
| 1985 | 8.83 million | -1.1% |
| 1986 | 8.71 million | -1.4% |
| 1987 | 8.58 million | -1.4% |
| 1988 | 8.46 million | -1.4% |
| 1989 | 8.34 million | -1.5% |
| 1990 | 8.20 million | -1.6% |
| 1991 | 7.94 million | -3.2% |
| 1992 | 7.79 million | -2.0% |
| 1993 | 8.27 million | +6.1% |
| 1994 | 8.17 million | -1.2% |
| 1995 | 8.05 million | -1.4% |
| 1996 | 7.88 million | -2.2% |
| 1997 | 7.71 million | -2.1% |
| 1998 | 7.69 million | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 7.57 million | -1.6% |
| 2000 | 7.44 million | -1.6% |
| 2001 | 7.23 million | -2.9% |
| 2002 | 7.05 million | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 6.50 million | -7.8% |
| 2004 | 6.30 million | -3.0% |
| 2005 | 6.13 million | -2.7% |
| 2006 | 7.18 million | +17.1% |
| 2007 | 6.83 million | -4.9% |
| 2008 | 6.43 million | -5.8% |
| 2009 | 6.46 million | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 6.15 million | -4.9% |
| 2011 | 5.88 million | -4.4% |
| 2012 | 5.10 million | -13.2% |
| 2013 | 4.52 million | -11.5% |
| 2014 | 4.57 million | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 4.42 million | -3.4% |
| 2016 | 5.45 million | +23.5% |
| 2017 | 5.23 million | -4.0% |
| 2018 | 5.07 million | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 4.96 million | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 4.84 million | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 4.74 million | -2.0% |
| 2022 | 4.67 million | -1.5% |
| 2023 | 4.62 million | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 4.52 million | -2.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 8.12 million | 7.70 million | 8.52 million | 6 |
| 1980s | 8.71 million | 8.34 million | 9.00 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.93 million | 7.57 million | 8.27 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.75 million | 6.13 million | 7.44 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.13 million | 4.42 million | 6.15 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.68 million | 4.52 million | 4.84 million | 5 |
More education data for SDG: Northern Africa
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 26.17 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 4.36 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 12.91 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 4.66 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.30 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 3.99 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.47 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 33.17 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.18 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 13.26 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in SDG: Northern Africa?
- Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in SDG: Northern Africa was 4.52 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in SDG: Northern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 9.00 million in 1983.
- What is the lowest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in SDG: Northern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.42 million in 2015.
- How does SDG: Northern Africa rank for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes?
- SDG: Northern Africa ranks 106th out of 204 groups with data for 2024.
- Is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes rising or falling in SDG: Northern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this SDG: Northern 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