Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes was 44.96 million number in 2019. ▲ Rising
Latest (2019)
44.96 million number
Change on year
down 0.5%
Rank
12th
of 38 groups
All-time high
55.46 million number
in 2007
All-time low
37.25 million number
in 1981
Years of data
39
1981–2019
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in Least developed countries, 1981–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in Least developed countries is 44.96 million number, measured in 2019.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 12.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in Least developed countries peaked at 55.46 million number in 2007 and was at its lowest, 37.25 million number, in 1981.
Least developed countries ranks 12th of 38 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 39 years of available data.
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 37.25 million number | — |
| 1982 | 38.10 million number | +2.3% |
| 1983 | 38.98 million number | +2.3% |
| 1984 | 39.85 million number | +2.2% |
| 1985 | 40.70 million number | +2.1% |
| 1986 | 41.51 million number | +2.0% |
| 1987 | 42.25 million number | +1.8% |
| 1988 | 42.12 million number | -0.3% |
| 1989 | 42.73 million number | +1.4% |
| 1990 | 43.47 million number | +1.7% |
| 1991 | 44.66 million number | +2.7% |
| 1992 | 45.69 million number | +2.3% |
| 1993 | 46.55 million number | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 47.11 million number | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 47.48 million number | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 48.24 million number | +1.6% |
| 1997 | 49.01 million number | +1.6% |
| 1998 | 48.94 million number | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 49.01 million number | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 49.74 million number | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 50.44 million number | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 49.48 million number | -1.9% |
| 2003 | 49.50 million number | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 48.64 million number | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 50.27 million number | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 52.52 million number | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 55.46 million number | +5.6% |
| 2008 | 52.05 million number | -6.1% |
| 2009 | 51.56 million number | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 51.19 million number | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 50.58 million number | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 49.54 million number | -2.0% |
| 2013 | 47.17 million number | -4.8% |
| 2014 | 47.03 million number | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 46.54 million number | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 45.45 million number | -2.3% |
| 2017 | 44.92 million number | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 45.19 million number | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 44.96 million number | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 40.39 million number | 37.25 million number | 42.73 million number | 9 |
| 1990s | 47.01 million number | 43.47 million number | 49.01 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 50.97 million number | 48.64 million number | 55.46 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 47.26 million number | 44.92 million number | 51.19 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
- 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
- 15 Malawi 934,377 number compare
More education data for Least developed countries
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1441 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 57.7% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 38.4% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 4.43 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.04 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 171.01 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- School enrollment, primary 100.7% (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, per capita 0.0037 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in Least developed countries?
- Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in Least developed countries was 44.96 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 55.46 million number in 2007.
- What is the lowest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.25 million number in 1981.
- How does Least developed countries rank for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes?
- Least developed countries ranks 12th out of 38 groups with data for 2019.
- Is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Least developed countries 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.