Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean
UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean: Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes was 1.37 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean, 1999–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean is 1.37 million, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.0% on the previous year and down 29.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean peaked at 5.09 million in 1999 and was at its lowest, 1.37 million, in 2024.
UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean ranks 138th of 204 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 5.09 million | — |
| 2000 | 4.90 million | -3.6% |
| 2001 | 4.78 million | -2.4% |
| 2002 | 4.42 million | -7.6% |
| 2003 | 3.70 million | -16.3% |
| 2004 | 3.61 million | -2.4% |
| 2005 | 3.45 million | -4.4% |
| 2006 | 3.37 million | -2.4% |
| 2007 | 3.18 million | -5.6% |
| 2008 | 3.00 million | -5.7% |
| 2009 | 2.80 million | -6.8% |
| 2010 | 2.85 million | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 2.41 million | -15.4% |
| 2012 | 2.25 million | -6.8% |
| 2013 | 2.29 million | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 1.94 million | -15.5% |
| 2015 | 1.84 million | -5.1% |
| 2016 | 1.70 million | -7.2% |
| 2017 | 1.71 million | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 1.62 million | -5.4% |
| 2019 | 1.57 million | -3.2% |
| 2020 | 1.57 million | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 1.51 million | -4.1% |
| 2022 | 1.45 million | -3.6% |
| 2023 | 1.41 million | -2.8% |
| 2024 | 1.37 million | -3.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.09 million | 5.09 million | 5.09 million | 1 |
| 2000s | 3.72 million | 2.80 million | 4.90 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.02 million | 1.57 million | 2.85 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.46 million | 1.37 million | 1.57 million | 5 |
More education data for UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 30.95 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) -2.79 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 17.84 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 3.30 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 736,275 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 2.87 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.56 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) -2.74 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.4491 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 31.26 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean?
- Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean was 1.37 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean?
- The highest recorded value was 5.09 million in 1999.
- What is the lowest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.37 million in 2024.
- How does UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean rank for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes?
- UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean ranks 138th out of 204 groups with data for 2024.
- Is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean 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