Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in WB: Europe & Central Asia

WB: Europe & Central Asia: Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes was 244,711 in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
244,711
Change on year
down 0.6%
Rank
172nd
of 204 groups
All-time high
1.29 million
in 1999
All-time low
244,711
in 2023
Years of data
25
1999–2023

Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in WB: Europe & 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: 987.2k2008: 944.7k2009: 721.3k2010: 648.3k2011: 566.7k2012: 511.0k2013: 467.9k2014: 430.2k2015: 405.3k2016: 375.1k2017: 341.3k2018: 286.8k2019: 266.8k2020: 267.5k2021: 247.6k2022: 246.2k2023: 244.7k

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

In 2023, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in WB: Europe & Central Asia stood at 244,711. 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 WB: Europe & Central Asia peaked at 1.29 million in 1999 and was at its lowest, 244,711, in 2023.

WB: Europe & Central Asia ranks 172nd 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 WB: Europe & Central Asia, year by year

Annual values for Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes (number) in WB: Europe & Central Asia, 1999 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1999 1.29 million
2000 1.20 million -7.0%
2001 1.17 million -2.3%
2002 1.11 million -5.3%
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 987,217 -3.2%
2008 944,692 -4.3%
2009 721,265 -23.7%
2010 648,328 -10.1%
2011 566,667 -12.6%
2012 510,952 -9.8%
2013 467,898 -8.4%
2014 430,157 -8.1%
2015 405,349 -5.8%
2016 375,094 -7.5%
2017 341,349 -9.0%
2018 286,813 -16.0%
2019 266,813 -7.0%
2020 267,521 +0.3%
2021 247,558 -7.5%
2022 246,230 -0.5%
2023 244,711 -0.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 1.29 million 1.29 million 1.29 million 1
2000s 1.04 million 721,265 1.20 million 10
2010s 429,942 266,813 648,328 10
2020s 251,505 244,711 267,521 4

More education data for WB: Europe & Central Asia

All data for WB: Europe & Central Asia →

Frequently asked questions

What is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in WB: Europe & Central Asia?
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in WB: Europe & Central Asia was 244,711 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in WB: Europe & 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 WB: Europe & Central Asia?
The lowest recorded value was 244,711 in 2023.
How does WB: Europe & Central Asia rank for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes?
WB: Europe & Central Asia ranks 172nd out of 204 groups with data for 2023.
Is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes rising or falling in WB: Europe & 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 WB: Europe & 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 WB: Europe & Central Asia. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/youth-illiterate-population-15-24-years-both-sexes-number-2/wb-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