Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central
WB: Africa Western and Central: Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes was 28.60 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
28.60 million
Change on year
up 2.7%
Rank
48th
of 204 groups
All-time high
28.60 million
in 2024
All-time low
14.98 million
in 1985
Years of data
40
1985–2024
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central, 1985–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central stood at 28.60 million. That is the highest value across all 40 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.7% on the previous year and up 11.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central peaked at 28.60 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 14.98 million, in 1985.
That places WB: Africa Western and Central 48th out of 204 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 40 years of available data.
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 14.98 million | — |
| 1986 | 15.33 million | +2.3% |
| 1987 | 15.53 million | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 15.87 million | +2.1% |
| 1989 | 16.11 million | +1.5% |
| 1990 | 16.39 million | +1.7% |
| 1991 | 16.66 million | +1.6% |
| 1992 | 16.96 million | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 17.27 million | +1.8% |
| 1994 | 17.49 million | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 18.30 million | +4.7% |
| 1996 | 18.57 million | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 18.75 million | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 18.68 million | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 19.00 million | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 21.90 million | +15.3% |
| 2001 | 21.81 million | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 22.12 million | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 22.52 million | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 22.26 million | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 22.76 million | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 22.92 million | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 24.37 million | +6.3% |
| 2008 | 24.92 million | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 25.55 million | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 25.86 million | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 25.69 million | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 25.83 million | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 25.67 million | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 25.62 million | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 25.52 million | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 25.84 million | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 25.74 million | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 24.55 million | -4.6% |
| 2019 | 25.51 million | +3.9% |
| 2020 | 26.19 million | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 26.73 million | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 27.27 million | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 27.86 million | +2.2% |
| 2024 | 28.60 million | +2.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 15.57 million | 14.98 million | 16.11 million | 5 |
| 1990s | 17.81 million | 16.39 million | 19.00 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 23.11 million | 21.81 million | 25.55 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.58 million | 24.55 million | 25.86 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.33 million | 26.19 million | 28.60 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near WB: Africa Western and Central
More education data for WB: Africa Western and Central
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 4.61 million (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 7.4 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.89 million (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.08 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.08 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.7294 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.00 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 6.08 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.09 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 18.05 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in WB: Africa Western and Central was 28.60 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 Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 28.60 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.98 million in 1985.
- How does WB: Africa Western and Central rank for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes?
- WB: Africa Western and Central ranks 48th out of 204 groups with data for 2024.
- Is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes rising or falling in WB: Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this WB: Africa Western and Central 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