Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa
UIS: Sub-saharan Africa: Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes was 50.95 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
50.95 million
Change on year
up 1.8%
Rank
26th
of 204 groups
All-time high
50.95 million
in 2024
All-time low
29.82 million
in 1984
Years of data
41
1984–2024
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa, 1984–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
UIS: Sub-saharan Africa recorded 50.95 million for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in 2024. That is the highest value across all 41 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.8% on the previous year and up 9.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 50.95 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 29.82 million, in 1984.
That places UIS: Sub-saharan Africa 26th out of 204 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 41 years of available data.
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 29.82 million | — |
| 1985 | 30.35 million | +1.8% |
| 1986 | 31.00 million | +2.2% |
| 1987 | 31.37 million | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 32.02 million | +2.1% |
| 1989 | 32.46 million | +1.4% |
| 1990 | 32.91 million | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 33.62 million | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 34.58 million | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 35.22 million | +1.8% |
| 1994 | 35.79 million | +1.6% |
| 1995 | 37.05 million | +3.5% |
| 1996 | 37.75 million | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 38.20 million | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 39.26 million | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 39.56 million | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 43.05 million | +8.8% |
| 2001 | 43.56 million | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 43.07 million | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 44.03 million | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 44.44 million | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 46.34 million | +4.3% |
| 2006 | 47.80 million | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 48.90 million | +2.3% |
| 2008 | 49.75 million | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 50.46 million | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 50.16 million | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 47.92 million | -4.5% |
| 2012 | 46.70 million | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 46.22 million | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 46.59 million | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 46.63 million | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 46.82 million | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 46.99 million | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 45.48 million | -3.2% |
| 2019 | 46.33 million | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 47.40 million | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 48.32 million | +1.9% |
| 2022 | 49.17 million | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 50.06 million | +1.8% |
| 2024 | 50.95 million | +1.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 31.17 million | 29.82 million | 32.46 million | 6 |
| 1990s | 36.39 million | 32.91 million | 39.56 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 46.14 million | 43.05 million | 50.46 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 46.98 million | 45.48 million | 50.16 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 49.18 million | 47.40 million | 50.95 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near UIS: Sub-saharan Africa
More education data for UIS: Sub-saharan Africa
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 9.73 million (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.7518 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 37.39 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.61 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 40.73 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.23 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 25.04 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 1.63 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 3.6 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 4.53 % change on previous year (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa was 50.95 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 50.95 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.82 million in 1984.
- How does UIS: Sub-saharan Africa rank for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes?
- UIS: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 26th out of 204 groups with data for 2024.
- Is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes rising or falling in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this UIS: 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