Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UNICEF: Europe and Central Asia

UNICEF: Europe and Central Asia: Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes was 244,935 in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
244,935
Change on year
down 0.6%
Rank
171st
of 204 groups
All-time high
1.29 million
in 1999
All-time low
244,935
in 2023
Years of data
25
1999–2023

Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UNICEF: Europe and Central Asia, 1999–2023

250.0k500.0k750.0k1.0M1.2M1999201120231999: 1.3M2000: 1.2M2001: 1.2M2002: 1.1M2003: 1.1M2004: 1.1M2005: 1.0M2006: 1.0M2007: 988.0k2008: 945.4k2009: 722.0k2010: 648.9k2011: 567.2k2012: 511.4k2013: 468.3k2014: 430.6k2015: 405.7k2016: 375.4k2017: 341.7k2018: 287.1k2019: 267.1k2020: 267.8k2021: 247.8k2022: 246.4k2023: 244.9k

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

In 2023, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UNICEF: Europe and Central Asia stood at 244,935. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.

That represents a change of down 0.6% on the previous year and down 47.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UNICEF: Europe and Central Asia peaked at 1.29 million in 1999 and was at its lowest, 244,935, in 2023.

UNICEF: Europe and Central Asia ranks 171st of 204 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UNICEF: Europe and Central Asia, year by year

Annual values for Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes (number) in UNICEF: Europe and Central Asia, 1999 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1999 1.29 million
2000 1.20 million -7.0%
2001 1.18 million -2.3%
2002 1.11 million -5.4%
2003 1.11 million -0.6%
2004 1.11 million +0.8%
2005 1.05 million -6.1%
2006 1.02 million -2.4%
2007 987,993 -3.2%
2008 945,415 -4.3%
2009 721,955 -23.6%
2010 648,903 -10.1%
2011 567,190 -12.6%
2012 511,426 -9.8%
2013 468,342 -8.4%
2014 430,570 -8.1%
2015 405,729 -5.8%
2016 375,441 -7.5%
2017 341,667 -9.0%
2018 287,111 -16.0%
2019 267,102 -7.0%
2020 267,788 +0.3%
2021 247,774 -7.5%
2022 246,435 -0.5%
2023 244,935 -0.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 1.29 million 1.29 million 1.29 million 1
2000s 1.04 million 721,955 1.20 million 10
2010s 430,348 267,102 648,903 10
2020s 251,733 244,935 267,788 4

More education data for UNICEF: Europe and Central Asia

All data for UNICEF: Europe and Central Asia →

Frequently asked questions

What is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UNICEF: Europe and Central Asia?
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UNICEF: Europe and Central Asia was 244,935 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: Europe and Central Asia?
The highest recorded value was 1.29 million in 1999.
What is the lowest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: Europe and Central Asia?
The lowest recorded value was 244,935 in 2023.
How does UNICEF: Europe and Central Asia rank for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes?
UNICEF: Europe and Central Asia ranks 171st out of 204 groups with data for 2023.
Is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: Europe and Central Asia?
Over the last ten years it is down 47.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this UNICEF: Europe and Central Asia 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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Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UNICEF: Europe and Central Asia. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/youth-illiterate-population-15-24-years-both-sexes-number-2/unicef-europe-and-central-asia/

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About this data

Indicator
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
262 places, 8,082 data points, 1970–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release