Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)
Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income): Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes was 1.30 million number in 2019. ▼ Falling
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income), 1983–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2019, illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) stood at 1.30 million number. That is the lowest value across all 37 years on record.
That represents a change of down 3.7% on the previous year and down 57.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) peaked at 7.85 million number in 1983 and was at its lowest, 1.30 million number, in 2019.
Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) ranks 36th of 39 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 37 years of available data.
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 7.85 million number | — |
| 1984 | 6.65 million number | -15.4% |
| 1985 | 6.59 million number | -0.8% |
| 1986 | 6.49 million number | -1.5% |
| 1987 | 6.38 million number | -1.6% |
| 1988 | 6.27 million number | -1.7% |
| 1989 | 6.39 million number | +1.8% |
| 1990 | 6.22 million number | -2.7% |
| 1991 | 6.10 million number | -1.9% |
| 1992 | 5.96 million number | -2.2% |
| 1993 | 5.82 million number | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 5.69 million number | -2.3% |
| 1995 | 5.55 million number | -2.5% |
| 1996 | 5.38 million number | -3.1% |
| 1997 | 5.22 million number | -2.9% |
| 1998 | 5.04 million number | -3.5% |
| 1999 | 4.85 million number | -3.7% |
| 2000 | 4.89 million number | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 4.69 million number | -4.2% |
| 2002 | 4.49 million number | -4.1% |
| 2003 | 4.34 million number | -3.4% |
| 2004 | 4.11 million number | -5.4% |
| 2005 | 3.81 million number | -7.1% |
| 2006 | 3.93 million number | +3.2% |
| 2007 | 3.83 million number | -2.7% |
| 2008 | 3.86 million number | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 3.05 million number | -21.0% |
| 2010 | 2.31 million number | -24.2% |
| 2011 | 1.91 million number | -17.4% |
| 2012 | 1.72 million number | -9.8% |
| 2013 | 1.64 million number | -4.9% |
| 2014 | 1.58 million number | -3.5% |
| 2015 | 1.54 million number | -2.6% |
| 2016 | 1.47 million number | -4.9% |
| 2017 | 1.40 million number | -4.2% |
| 2018 | 1.35 million number | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 1.30 million number | -3.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 6.66 million number | 6.27 million number | 7.85 million number | 7 |
| 1990s | 5.58 million number | 4.85 million number | 6.22 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.10 million number | 3.05 million number | 4.89 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.62 million number | 1.30 million number | 2.31 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)
More reference data data for Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 2,129 (2026)
- CPI Price, nominal 1,612 (2026)
- CPI Price, nominal, seas. adj. 1,548 (2026)
- School life expectancy, primary, both sexes 4.07 years (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 5.92 million number (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 2.88 million number (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 3.04 million number (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, male 4.09 years (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, female 4.06 years (2019)
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in general 81.6% (2019)
All data for Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)?
- Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) was 1.30 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 7.85 million number in 1983.
- What is the lowest illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.30 million number in 2019.
- How does Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) rank for illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes?
- Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) ranks 36th out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
- Is illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 57.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
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.