Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes was 21.21 million number in 2019. ▲ Rising
Latest (2019)
21.21 million number
Change on year
up 2.2%
Rank
17th
of 37 groups
All-time high
21.21 million number
in 2019
All-time low
10.09 million number
in 1984
Years of data
36
1984–2019
Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1984–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa is 21.21 million number, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 2.2% on the previous year and up 26.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 21.21 million number in 2019 and was at its lowest, 10.09 million number, in 1984.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 17th of 37 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 10.09 million number | — |
| 1985 | 10.33 million number | +2.4% |
| 1986 | 10.66 million number | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 10.97 million number | +2.9% |
| 1988 | 11.26 million number | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 11.57 million number | +2.7% |
| 1990 | 11.87 million number | +2.7% |
| 1991 | 12.39 million number | +4.3% |
| 1992 | 12.70 million number | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 12.99 million number | +2.3% |
| 1994 | 13.32 million number | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 13.57 million number | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 13.90 million number | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 14.16 million number | +1.8% |
| 1998 | 14.34 million number | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 14.55 million number | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 15.03 million number | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 15.31 million number | +1.9% |
| 2002 | 15.64 million number | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 15.90 million number | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 16.05 million number | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 16.24 million number | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 15.69 million number | -3.4% |
| 2007 | 16.72 million number | +6.6% |
| 2008 | 16.73 million number | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 16.72 million number | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 17.12 million number | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 17.60 million number | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 18.13 million number | +3.0% |
| 2013 | 18.38 million number | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 18.70 million number | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 19.14 million number | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 19.48 million number | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 20.42 million number | +4.8% |
| 2018 | 20.76 million number | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 21.21 million number | +2.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 10.81 million number | 10.09 million number | 11.57 million number | 6 |
| 1990s | 13.38 million number | 11.87 million number | 14.55 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.00 million number | 15.03 million number | 16.73 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.09 million number | 17.12 million number | 21.21 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 14 South Africa 1.35 million number compare
- 15 Türkiye 1.33 million number compare
- 16 Nepal 1.23 million number compare
- 17 Viet Nam 984,040 number compare
- 18 Tanzania, United Republic of 760,646 number compare
- 19 Colombia 702,477 number compare
- 20 Mozambique 592,436 number compare
More reference data data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 16.22 million number (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 15.81 million number (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, both sexes 6.17 years (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 32.03 million number (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, female 6.02 years (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, male 6.33 years (2019)
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in general 94.2% (2018)
- School life expectancy, pre-primary, both sexes 0.78 years (2019)
- Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, adjusted gender parity 0.767 GPIA (2018)
- Teachers in primary education, male 2.57 million number (2019)
Frequently asked questions
- What is elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa was 21.21 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 21.21 million number in 2019.
- What is the lowest elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.09 million number in 1984.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 17th out of 37 groups with data for 2019.
- Is elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total number of adults over age 65 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life.