Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan
WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan: Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes was 18.57 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
18.57 million
Change on year
down 2.5%
Rank
75th
of 204 groups
All-time high
26.63 million
in 1984
All-time low
18.57 million
in 2024
Years of data
51
1974–2024
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan, 1974–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan recorded 18.57 million for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 51 years on record.
The figure is down 2.5% on the previous year and down 7.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan peaked at 26.63 million in 1984 and was at its lowest, 18.57 million, in 2024.
That places WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan 75th out of 204 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 51 years of available data.
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 22.85 million | — |
| 1975 | 23.42 million | +2.5% |
| 1976 | 23.98 million | +2.4% |
| 1977 | 24.41 million | +1.8% |
| 1978 | 24.83 million | +1.8% |
| 1979 | 25.24 million | +1.6% |
| 1980 | 25.66 million | +1.7% |
| 1981 | 26.15 million | +1.9% |
| 1982 | 26.40 million | +1.0% |
| 1983 | 26.59 million | +0.7% |
| 1984 | 26.63 million | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 26.62 million | -0.0% |
| 1986 | 26.60 million | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 26.61 million | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 26.54 million | -0.2% |
| 1989 | 26.48 million | -0.2% |
| 1990 | 25.86 million | -2.4% |
| 1991 | 25.57 million | -1.1% |
| 1992 | 24.76 million | -3.2% |
| 1993 | 24.57 million | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 24.55 million | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 24.28 million | -1.1% |
| 1996 | 24.22 million | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 24.25 million | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 24.39 million | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 24.47 million | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 24.54 million | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 24.44 million | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 24.42 million | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 23.62 million | -3.2% |
| 2004 | 23.59 million | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 23.58 million | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 23.84 million | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 23.80 million | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 22.44 million | -5.7% |
| 2009 | 22.16 million | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 21.92 million | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 22.35 million | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 20.82 million | -6.8% |
| 2013 | 20.61 million | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 19.97 million | -3.1% |
| 2015 | 19.24 million | -3.7% |
| 2016 | 19.72 million | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 19.45 million | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 21.48 million | +10.4% |
| 2019 | 21.22 million | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 20.64 million | -2.7% |
| 2021 | 20.12 million | -2.5% |
| 2022 | 19.59 million | -2.6% |
| 2023 | 19.04 million | -2.8% |
| 2024 | 18.57 million | -2.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 24.12 million | 22.85 million | 25.24 million | 6 |
| 1980s | 26.43 million | 25.66 million | 26.63 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 24.69 million | 24.22 million | 25.86 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 23.64 million | 22.16 million | 24.54 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.68 million | 19.24 million | 22.35 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.59 million | 18.57 million | 20.64 million | 5 |
More education data for WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 4.42 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 16.51 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 3.77 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 35.93 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 5.15 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 32.16 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 2.28 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 3.29 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 43.62 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 2.72 % change on previous year (2024)
All data for WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan →
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan?
- Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan was 18.57 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 26.63 million in 1984.
- What is the lowest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.57 million in 2024.
- How does WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan rank for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes?
- WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan ranks 75th out of 204 groups with data for 2024.
- Is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes rising or falling in WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan 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