Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in Arab World
Arab World: Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes was 12.53 million number in 2019. ▼ Falling
Latest (2019)
12.53 million number
Change on year
up 0.0%
Rank
20th
of 39 groups
All-time high
12.97 million number
in 2009
All-time low
9.19 million number
in 2014
Years of data
43
1977–2019
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in Arab World, 1977–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
Arab World recorded 12.53 million number for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in 2019.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in Arab World peaked at 12.97 million number in 2009 and was at its lowest, 9.19 million number, in 2014.
Arab World ranks 20th of 39 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 43 years of available data.
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in Arab World, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 11.25 million number | — |
| 1978 | 11.55 million number | +2.6% |
| 1979 | 11.83 million number | +2.5% |
| 1980 | 12.08 million number | +2.0% |
| 1981 | 12.26 million number | +1.5% |
| 1982 | 12.41 million number | +1.2% |
| 1983 | 12.57 million number | +1.3% |
| 1984 | 12.54 million number | -0.3% |
| 1985 | 12.48 million number | -0.4% |
| 1986 | 12.38 million number | -0.8% |
| 1987 | 12.32 million number | -0.4% |
| 1988 | 12.22 million number | -0.8% |
| 1989 | 12.13 million number | -0.8% |
| 1990 | 11.99 million number | -1.2% |
| 1991 | 11.64 million number | -2.9% |
| 1992 | 11.49 million number | -1.2% |
| 1993 | 11.93 million number | +3.8% |
| 1994 | 11.83 million number | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 11.74 million number | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 11.61 million number | -1.1% |
| 1997 | 11.55 million number | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 11.53 million number | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 11.46 million number | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 11.38 million number | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 11.19 million number | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 10.89 million number | -2.7% |
| 2003 | 10.59 million number | -2.7% |
| 2004 | 10.41 million number | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 10.40 million number | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 11.52 million number | +10.7% |
| 2007 | 11.23 million number | -2.5% |
| 2008 | 10.96 million number | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 12.97 million number | +18.3% |
| 2010 | 12.84 million number | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 12.73 million number | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 10.05 million number | -21.0% |
| 2013 | 9.92 million number | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 9.19 million number | -7.3% |
| 2015 | 11.62 million number | +26.4% |
| 2016 | 10.05 million number | -13.5% |
| 2017 | 9.72 million number | -3.2% |
| 2018 | 12.53 million number | +28.8% |
| 2019 | 12.53 million number | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 11.55 million number | 11.25 million number | 11.83 million number | 3 |
| 1980s | 12.34 million number | 12.08 million number | 12.57 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.68 million number | 11.46 million number | 11.99 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.16 million number | 10.40 million number | 12.97 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.12 million number | 9.19 million number | 12.84 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Arab World
More education data for Arab World
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 40.79 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1129 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.7891 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 55.62 million (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 2.58 million (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 32.0% (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 63.3% (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in Arab World?
- Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in Arab World was 12.53 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in Arab World?
- The highest recorded value was 12.97 million number in 2009.
- What is the lowest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in Arab World?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.19 million number in 2014.
- How does Arab World rank for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes?
- Arab World ranks 20th out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
- Is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes rising or falling in Arab World?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Arab 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
Total number of youth between age 15 and age 24 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life.