Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern
WB: Africa Eastern and Southern: Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes was 25.33 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
25.33 million
Change on year
up 0.6%
Rank
54th
of 204 groups
All-time high
27.44 million
in 2009
All-time low
17.02 million
in 1987
Years of data
38
1987–2024
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern, 1987–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern stood at 25.33 million.
The figure is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 7.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern peaked at 27.44 million in 2009 and was at its lowest, 17.02 million, in 1987.
That places WB: Africa Eastern and Southern 54th out of 204 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 38 years of available data.
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 17.02 million | — |
| 1988 | 17.37 million | +2.0% |
| 1989 | 17.59 million | +1.3% |
| 1990 | 17.78 million | +1.1% |
| 1991 | 18.24 million | +2.6% |
| 1992 | 18.92 million | +3.7% |
| 1993 | 19.27 million | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 19.66 million | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 20.15 million | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 20.56 million | +2.1% |
| 1997 | 20.80 million | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 21.90 million | +5.3% |
| 1999 | 21.88 million | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 22.45 million | +2.6% |
| 2001 | 23.05 million | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 22.24 million | -3.5% |
| 2003 | 22.78 million | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 23.44 million | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 24.89 million | +6.2% |
| 2006 | 27.37 million | +10.0% |
| 2007 | 27.03 million | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 27.33 million | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 27.44 million | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 26.86 million | -2.1% |
| 2011 | 24.79 million | -7.7% |
| 2012 | 23.36 million | -5.8% |
| 2013 | 23.04 million | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 23.48 million | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 23.65 million | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 23.55 million | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 23.85 million | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 23.58 million | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 23.55 million | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 24.00 million | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 24.45 million | +1.9% |
| 2022 | 24.83 million | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 25.19 million | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 25.33 million | +0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 17.33 million | 17.02 million | 17.59 million | 3 |
| 1990s | 19.92 million | 17.78 million | 21.90 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.80 million | 22.24 million | 27.44 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.97 million | 23.04 million | 26.86 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.76 million | 24.00 million | 25.33 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near WB: Africa Eastern and Southern
More education data for WB: Africa Eastern and Southern
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 20.71 million (2022)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 2.23 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 5.92 million (2021)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 1.75 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 18.88 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 2.91 % change on previous year (2022)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 23.18 million (2022)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 2.98 % change on previous year (2022)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.9717 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 46.07 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern was 25.33 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The highest recorded value was 27.44 million in 2009.
- What is the lowest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.02 million in 1987.
- How does WB: Africa Eastern and Southern rank for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes?
- WB: Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 54th out of 204 groups with data for 2024.
- Is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes rising or falling in WB: Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this WB: Africa Eastern and Southern 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