Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in Early-demographic dividend
Early-demographic dividend: Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes was 46.79 million number in 2019. ▼ Falling
Latest (2019)
46.79 million number
Change on year
down 4.4%
Rank
11th
of 39 groups
All-time high
118.84 million number
in 1986
All-time low
46.79 million number
in 2019
Years of data
45
1975–2019
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in Early-demographic dividend, 1975–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
Early-demographic dividend recorded 46.79 million number for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.4% on the previous year and down 33.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in Early-demographic dividend peaked at 118.84 million number in 1986 and was at its lowest, 46.79 million number, in 2019.
Early-demographic dividend ranks 11th of 39 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 45 years of available data.
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in Early-demographic dividend, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 105.86 million number | — |
| 1976 | 108.24 million number | +2.2% |
| 1977 | 109.34 million number | +1.0% |
| 1978 | 110.40 million number | +1.0% |
| 1979 | 111.49 million number | +1.0% |
| 1980 | 112.92 million number | +1.3% |
| 1981 | 114.46 million number | +1.4% |
| 1982 | 115.55 million number | +1.0% |
| 1983 | 116.67 million number | +1.0% |
| 1984 | 117.37 million number | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 118.30 million number | +0.8% |
| 1986 | 118.84 million number | +0.5% |
| 1987 | 117.08 million number | -1.5% |
| 1988 | 117.51 million number | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 116.55 million number | -0.8% |
| 1990 | 115.10 million number | -1.2% |
| 1991 | 114.15 million number | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 111.99 million number | -1.9% |
| 1993 | 110.83 million number | -1.0% |
| 1994 | 109.47 million number | -1.2% |
| 1995 | 107.92 million number | -1.4% |
| 1996 | 107.02 million number | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 106.58 million number | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 99.44 million number | -6.7% |
| 1999 | 98.09 million number | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 96.93 million number | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 95.86 million number | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 92.66 million number | -3.3% |
| 2003 | 90.03 million number | -2.8% |
| 2004 | 86.88 million number | -3.5% |
| 2005 | 85.74 million number | -1.3% |
| 2006 | 82.71 million number | -3.5% |
| 2007 | 83.29 million number | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 73.69 million number | -11.5% |
| 2009 | 70.65 million number | -4.1% |
| 2010 | 70.12 million number | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 69.24 million number | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 66.13 million number | -4.5% |
| 2013 | 61.82 million number | -6.5% |
| 2014 | 58.38 million number | -5.6% |
| 2015 | 55.05 million number | -5.7% |
| 2016 | 52.43 million number | -4.7% |
| 2017 | 50.75 million number | -3.2% |
| 2018 | 48.95 million number | -3.5% |
| 2019 | 46.79 million number | -4.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 109.07 million number | 105.86 million number | 111.49 million number | 5 |
| 1980s | 116.53 million number | 112.92 million number | 118.84 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 108.06 million number | 98.09 million number | 115.10 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 85.84 million number | 70.65 million number | 96.93 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 57.97 million number | 46.79 million number | 70.12 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Early-demographic dividend
- 8 Mali 1.83 million number compare
- 9 Mozambique 1.66 million number compare
- 10 Burkina Faso 1.65 million number compare
- 11 Bangladesh 1.58 million number compare
- 12 Tanzania, United Republic of 1.42 million number compare
- 13 Madagascar 1.02 million number compare
- 14 Uganda 939,689 number compare
More education data for Early-demographic dividend
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 13.97 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 320.06 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 364.78 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.5 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 26.9% (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 66.3% (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1027 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in Early-demographic dividend?
- Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in Early-demographic dividend was 46.79 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in Early-demographic dividend?
- The highest recorded value was 118.84 million number in 1986.
- What is the lowest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in Early-demographic dividend?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.79 million number in 2019.
- How does Early-demographic dividend rank for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes?
- Early-demographic dividend ranks 11th out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
- Is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes rising or falling in Early-demographic dividend?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Early-demographic dividend 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.