Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)

Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC): Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes was 115.31 million number in 2019. ▲ Rising

Latest (2019)
115.31 million number
Change on year
up 2.2%
Rank
17th
of 39 groups
All-time high
115.31 million number
in 2019
All-time low
63.84 million number
in 1986
Years of data
34
1986–2019

Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC), 1986–2019

025.0M50.0M75.0M100.0M125.0M1986200220191986: 63.8M number1987: 64.7M number1988: 65.6M number1989: 66.8M number1990: 67.9M number1991: 69.2M number1992: 70.5M number1993: 72.1M number1994: 73.4M number1995: 75.4M number1996: 76.5M number1997: 77.1M number1998: 77.5M number1999: 78.5M number2000: 79.0M number2001: 80.1M number2002: 82.2M number2003: 83.8M number2004: 85.4M number2005: 87.8M number2006: 94.0M number2007: 94.4M number2008: 97.4M number2009: 100.4M number2010: 101.7M number2011: 101.2M number2012: 101.7M number2013: 103.5M number2014: 104.7M number2015: 107.0M number2016: 109.0M number2017: 110.5M number2018: 112.8M number2019: 115.3M number

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

In 2019, illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) stood at 115.31 million number. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.

The figure is up 2.2% on the previous year and up 14.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) peaked at 115.31 million number in 2019 and was at its lowest, 63.84 million number, in 1986.

Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) ranks 17th of 39 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 65.23 million number 63.84 million number 66.83 million number 4
1990s 73.81 million number 67.90 million number 78.51 million number 10
2000s 88.46 million number 79.03 million number 100.42 million number 10
2010s 106.74 million number 101.23 million number 115.31 million number 10

Countries ranked near Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)

  1. 14 Mali 4.07 million number compare
  2. 15 Mozambique 3.92 million number compare
  3. 16 Uganda 3.90 million number compare
  4. 17 Tanzania, United Republic of 3.83 million number compare
  5. 18 Algeria 3.54 million number compare
  6. 19 Chad 3.50 million number compare
  7. 20 South Africa 3.39 million number compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)

All data for Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) →

Frequently asked questions

What is illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)?
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) was 115.31 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)?
The highest recorded value was 115.31 million number in 2019.
What is the lowest illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)?
The lowest recorded value was 63.84 million number in 1986.
How does Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) rank for illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes?
Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) ranks 17th out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
Is illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)?
Over the last ten years it is up 14.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) 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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Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC). Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 21 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/illiterate-population-25-64-years-both-sexes-number/heavily-indebted-poor-countries-hipc/

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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

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.