Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa
UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa: Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes was 22.99 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
22.99 million
Change on year
up 0.5%
Rank
69th
of 204 groups
All-time high
23.57 million
in 2006
All-time low
15.05 million
in 1985
Years of data
40
1985–2024
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa, 1985–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa recorded 22.99 million for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 7.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa peaked at 23.57 million in 2006 and was at its lowest, 15.05 million, in 1985.
UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa ranks 69th of 204 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 40 years of available data.
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 15.05 million | — |
| 1986 | 15.32 million | +1.9% |
| 1987 | 15.47 million | +0.9% |
| 1988 | 15.76 million | +1.9% |
| 1989 | 15.93 million | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 16.08 million | +0.9% |
| 1991 | 16.47 million | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 17.11 million | +3.8% |
| 1993 | 17.40 million | +1.7% |
| 1994 | 17.73 million | +1.9% |
| 1995 | 18.07 million | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 18.47 million | +2.2% |
| 1997 | 18.69 million | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 19.72 million | +5.5% |
| 1999 | 19.54 million | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 19.95 million | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 20.35 million | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 19.37 million | -4.9% |
| 2003 | 19.72 million | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 20.17 million | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 21.42 million | +6.2% |
| 2006 | 23.57 million | +10.0% |
| 2007 | 23.12 million | -1.9% |
| 2008 | 23.33 million | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 23.34 million | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 22.65 million | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 22.59 million | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 21.12 million | -6.5% |
| 2013 | 20.83 million | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 21.30 million | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 21.42 million | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 21.21 million | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 21.50 million | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 21.24 million | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 21.23 million | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 21.71 million | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 22.18 million | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 22.54 million | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 22.88 million | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 22.99 million | +0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 15.51 million | 15.05 million | 15.93 million | 5 |
| 1990s | 17.93 million | 16.08 million | 19.72 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 21.43 million | 19.37 million | 23.57 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.51 million | 20.83 million | 22.65 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.46 million | 21.71 million | 22.99 million | 5 |
More education data for UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 49.26 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 1.01 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.50 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 2.77 % change on previous year (2022)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 36.30 million (2022)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.22 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 50.69 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.32 % change on previous year (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 8.67 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 9.20 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa?
- Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa was 22.99 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 23.57 million in 2006.
- What is the lowest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.05 million in 1985.
- How does UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa rank for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes?
- UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa ranks 69th out of 204 groups with data for 2024.
- Is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: Eastern and Southern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this UNICEF: Eastern and Southern 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