Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UNICEF: All Unicef Countries
UNICEF: All Unicef Countries: Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes was 85.16 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
85.16 million
Change on year
down 0.8%
Rank
7th
of 204 groups
All-time high
189.74 million
in 1987
All-time low
85.16 million
in 2024
Years of data
38
1987–2024
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UNICEF: All Unicef Countries, 1987–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UNICEF: All Unicef Countries is 85.16 million, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 38 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 19.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UNICEF: All Unicef Countries peaked at 189.74 million in 1987 and was at its lowest, 85.16 million, in 2024.
That places UNICEF: All Unicef Countries 7th out of 204 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 38 years of available data.
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UNICEF: All Unicef Countries, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 189.74 million | — |
| 1988 | 185.24 million | -2.4% |
| 1989 | 181.96 million | -1.8% |
| 1990 | 178.46 million | -1.9% |
| 1991 | 175.20 million | -1.8% |
| 1992 | 171.61 million | -2.1% |
| 1993 | 168.50 million | -1.8% |
| 1994 | 164.94 million | -2.1% |
| 1995 | 161.97 million | -1.8% |
| 1996 | 159.12 million | -1.8% |
| 1997 | 150.42 million | -5.5% |
| 1998 | 142.53 million | -5.2% |
| 1999 | 139.84 million | -1.9% |
| 2000 | 140.63 million | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 140.11 million | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 137.36 million | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 134.80 million | -1.9% |
| 2004 | 133.14 million | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 132.83 million | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 137.46 million | +3.5% |
| 2007 | 134.65 million | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 130.31 million | -3.2% |
| 2009 | 128.16 million | -1.7% |
| 2010 | 123.70 million | -3.5% |
| 2011 | 119.52 million | -3.4% |
| 2012 | 115.38 million | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 109.31 million | -5.3% |
| 2014 | 106.19 million | -2.9% |
| 2015 | 102.40 million | -3.6% |
| 2016 | 99.79 million | -2.5% |
| 2017 | 97.94 million | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 97.12 million | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 88.77 million | -8.6% |
| 2020 | 88.00 million | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 87.07 million | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 86.66 million | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 85.84 million | -0.9% |
| 2024 | 85.16 million | -0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 185.65 million | 181.96 million | 189.74 million | 3 |
| 1990s | 161.26 million | 139.84 million | 178.46 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 134.95 million | 128.16 million | 140.63 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 106.01 million | 88.77 million | 123.70 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 86.55 million | 85.16 million | 88.00 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near UNICEF: All Unicef Countries
More education data for UNICEF: All Unicef Countries
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 569.51 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.8422 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 274.67 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 1.48 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 29.12 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.6486 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.84 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.59 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 345.07 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 294.84 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UNICEF: All Unicef Countries?
- Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UNICEF: All Unicef Countries was 85.16 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: All Unicef Countries?
- The highest recorded value was 189.74 million in 1987.
- What is the lowest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: All Unicef Countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 85.16 million in 2024.
- How does UNICEF: All Unicef Countries rank for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes?
- UNICEF: All Unicef Countries ranks 7th out of 204 groups with data for 2024.
- Is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: All Unicef Countries?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this UNICEF: All Unicef Countries 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