Which has higher illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes, Mali or Sub-Saharan Africa?

Sub-Saharan Africa, at 147.21 million number against 4.07 million number in Mali as of 2019.

What is the difference in illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes between Mali and Sub-Saharan Africa?

143.14 million number, with Sub-Saharan Africa ahead.

How many years of comparable data are there for Mali and Sub-Saharan Africa?

6 years are reported by both, from 1998 to 2018.

Where does this data come from?

UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes (number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Mali vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes

Mali

4.07 million number

in 2018

Sub-Saharan Africa

147.21 million number

in 2019

Mali rank

14th

Sub-Saharan Africa rank

12th

Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes over time

Mali
Sub-Saharan Africa

How they compare

Sub-Saharan Africa currently reports 147.21 million number against 4.07 million number in Mali, a difference of 143.14 million number.

That makes Sub-Saharan Africa's figure about 36.2 times Mali's.

Across all 6 years both countries report, Sub-Saharan Africa has been ahead every year.

Mali ranks 14th and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 12th of 83 countries.

Sub-Saharan Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Mali	Sub-Saharan Africa	Difference	Ahead
1990s	2.54 million number	96.79 million number	94.25 million number	Sub-Saharan Africa
2000s	3.18 million number	111.19 million number	108.01 million number	Sub-Saharan Africa
2010s	3.70 million number	135.21 million number	131.51 million number	Sub-Saharan Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes, Mali or Sub-Saharan Africa?: Sub-Saharan Africa, at 147.21 million number against 4.07 million number in Mali as of 2019.
What is the difference in illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes between Mali and Sub-Saharan Africa?: 143.14 million number, with Sub-Saharan Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Mali and Sub-Saharan Africa?: 6 years are reported by both, from 1998 to 2018.
How do Mali and Sub-Saharan Africa rank globally for illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes?: Mali ranks 14th and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 12th of 83 countries.
Where does this data come from?: UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes (number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Mali vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 29 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/compare/illiterate-population-25-64-years-both-sexes-number/mali/sub-saharan-africa/

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About this data

Indicator: Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes (number)
Unit: number
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 122 places, 2,239 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed: 21 August 2026

Total number of adults from age 25 to age 64 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life.