Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UNICEF: World
UNICEF: World: Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes was 86.08 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
86.08 million
Change on year
down 0.8%
Rank
5th
of 204 groups
All-time high
173.93 million
in 1992
All-time low
86.08 million
in 2024
Years of data
33
1992–2024
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UNICEF: World, 1992–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UNICEF: World stood at 86.08 million. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
That represents a change of 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: World peaked at 173.93 million in 1992 and was at its lowest, 86.08 million, in 2024.
UNICEF: World ranks 5th of 204 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UNICEF: World, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 173.93 million | — |
| 1993 | 170.78 million | -1.8% |
| 1994 | 167.12 million | -2.1% |
| 1995 | 164.07 million | -1.8% |
| 1996 | 161.15 million | -1.8% |
| 1997 | 152.38 million | -5.4% |
| 1998 | 144.53 million | -5.1% |
| 1999 | 141.74 million | -1.9% |
| 2000 | 142.52 million | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 141.96 million | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 139.11 million | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 136.45 million | -1.9% |
| 2004 | 134.71 million | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 134.35 million | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 138.92 million | +3.4% |
| 2007 | 136.05 million | -2.1% |
| 2008 | 131.65 million | -3.2% |
| 2009 | 129.48 million | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 125.12 million | -3.4% |
| 2011 | 120.87 million | -3.4% |
| 2012 | 116.69 million | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 110.58 million | -5.2% |
| 2014 | 107.28 million | -3.0% |
| 2015 | 103.47 million | -3.6% |
| 2016 | 100.83 million | -2.5% |
| 2017 | 98.97 million | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 98.14 million | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 89.78 million | -8.5% |
| 2020 | 88.99 million | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 88.01 million | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 87.59 million | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 86.78 million | -0.9% |
| 2024 | 86.08 million | -0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 159.46 million | 141.74 million | 173.93 million | 8 |
| 2000s | 136.52 million | 129.48 million | 142.52 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 107.17 million | 89.78 million | 125.12 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 87.49 million | 86.08 million | 88.99 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near UNICEF: World
- 2 India 7.34 million compare
- 3 Bangladesh 2.14 million compare
- 4 Burkina Faso 2.14 million compare
- 5 Egypt 2.13 million compare
- 6 Mali 1.89 million compare
- 7 Mozambique 1.82 million compare
- 8 Uganda 1.50 million compare
More education data for UNICEF: World
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.5772 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 336.69 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.7455 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 314.34 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 1.22 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 34.04 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.22 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 376.15 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 404.15 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.4208 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UNICEF: World?
- Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in UNICEF: World was 86.08 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: World?
- The highest recorded value was 173.93 million in 1992.
- What is the lowest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: World?
- The lowest recorded value was 86.08 million in 2024.
- How does UNICEF: World rank for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes?
- UNICEF: World ranks 5th out of 204 groups with data for 2024.
- Is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: World?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this UNICEF: World 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