Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income)
Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income): Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes was 15.97 million number in 2019. ▼ Falling
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income), 1974–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) is 15.97 million number, measured in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 46 years on record.
That represents a change of down 4.5% on the previous year and down 24.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) peaked at 28.01 million number in 1987 and was at its lowest, 15.97 million number, in 2019.
Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) ranks 31st of 39 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 46 years of available data.
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 25.40 million number | — |
| 1975 | 26.11 million number | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 26.35 million number | +0.9% |
| 1977 | 26.49 million number | +0.6% |
| 1978 | 26.60 million number | +0.4% |
| 1979 | 26.72 million number | +0.4% |
| 1980 | 26.85 million number | +0.5% |
| 1981 | 26.94 million number | +0.3% |
| 1982 | 27.15 million number | +0.8% |
| 1983 | 27.31 million number | +0.6% |
| 1984 | 27.48 million number | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 27.65 million number | +0.6% |
| 1986 | 27.77 million number | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 28.01 million number | +0.9% |
| 1988 | 27.97 million number | -0.1% |
| 1989 | 27.95 million number | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 27.93 million number | -0.0% |
| 1991 | 27.70 million number | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 27.22 million number | -1.7% |
| 1993 | 26.74 million number | -1.8% |
| 1994 | 26.22 million number | -2.0% |
| 1995 | 25.65 million number | -2.2% |
| 1996 | 25.45 million number | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 25.40 million number | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 24.94 million number | -1.8% |
| 1999 | 24.70 million number | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 24.50 million number | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 24.71 million number | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 24.82 million number | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 23.57 million number | -5.0% |
| 2004 | 23.70 million number | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 23.24 million number | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 23.34 million number | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 22.07 million number | -5.4% |
| 2008 | 21.85 million number | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 21.20 million number | -3.0% |
| 2010 | 21.81 million number | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 20.11 million number | -7.8% |
| 2012 | 19.82 million number | -1.4% |
| 2013 | 19.97 million number | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 18.76 million number | -6.0% |
| 2015 | 18.40 million number | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 17.22 million number | -6.4% |
| 2017 | 17.09 million number | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 16.73 million number | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 15.97 million number | -4.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 26.28 million number | 25.40 million number | 26.72 million number | 6 |
| 1980s | 27.51 million number | 26.85 million number | 28.01 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 26.19 million number | 24.70 million number | 27.93 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 23.30 million number | 21.20 million number | 24.82 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.59 million number | 15.97 million number | 21.81 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income)
More reference data data for Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income)
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 466.52 (2026)
- CPI Price, nominal 227.47 (2026)
- CPI Price, nominal, seas. adj. 223.29 (2026)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 5.10 million number (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, both sexes 6.17 years (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 4.89 million number (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 9.99 million number (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, female 6.12 years (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, male 6.21 years (2019)
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in general 87.4% (2019)
All data for Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income)?
- Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) was 15.97 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 28.01 million number in 1987.
- What is the lowest illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.97 million number in 2019.
- How does Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) rank for illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes?
- Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) ranks 31st out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
- Is illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Latin America & Caribbean (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.