Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income): Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes was 43.76 million number in 2019. ▲ Rising
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income), 1972–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) recorded 43.76 million number for illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in 2019.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 9.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) peaked at 44.21 million number in 2016 and was at its lowest, 30.11 million number, in 1972.
That places Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) 23rd out of 39 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 48 years of available data.
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 30.11 million number | — |
| 1973 | 30.53 million number | +1.4% |
| 1974 | 31.02 million number | +1.6% |
| 1975 | 31.56 million number | +1.7% |
| 1976 | 32.14 million number | +1.8% |
| 1977 | 32.76 million number | +1.9% |
| 1978 | 33.39 million number | +1.9% |
| 1979 | 34.07 million number | +2.0% |
| 1980 | 34.72 million number | +1.9% |
| 1981 | 35.37 million number | +1.9% |
| 1982 | 35.99 million number | +1.8% |
| 1983 | 36.89 million number | +2.5% |
| 1984 | 37.56 million number | +1.8% |
| 1985 | 38.14 million number | +1.6% |
| 1986 | 38.72 million number | +1.5% |
| 1987 | 39.27 million number | +1.4% |
| 1988 | 39.71 million number | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 40.18 million number | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 39.28 million number | -2.2% |
| 1991 | 39.65 million number | +0.9% |
| 1992 | 39.90 million number | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 39.84 million number | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 40.12 million number | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 39.72 million number | -1.0% |
| 1996 | 39.55 million number | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 39.49 million number | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 39.11 million number | -1.0% |
| 1999 | 38.94 million number | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 38.88 million number | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 38.54 million number | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 38.34 million number | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 35.70 million number | -6.9% |
| 2004 | 35.53 million number | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 37.41 million number | +5.3% |
| 2006 | 38.93 million number | +4.1% |
| 2007 | 39.37 million number | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 39.50 million number | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 39.95 million number | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 40.20 million number | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 41.16 million number | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 40.94 million number | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 41.91 million number | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 40.95 million number | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 40.61 million number | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 44.21 million number | +8.9% |
| 2017 | 43.70 million number | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 43.64 million number | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 43.76 million number | +0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 31.95 million number | 30.11 million number | 34.07 million number | 8 |
| 1980s | 37.66 million number | 34.72 million number | 40.18 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 39.56 million number | 38.94 million number | 40.12 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 38.21 million number | 35.53 million number | 39.95 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 42.11 million number | 40.20 million number | 44.21 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)
More reference data data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 15,654 (2021)
- CPI Price, nominal 818.96 (2026)
- CPI Price, nominal, annual growth rate 5.73 % change on previous year (2026)
- CPI Price, nominal, seas. adj. 869.41 (2026)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 8.53 million number (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 4.15 million number (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 4.38 million number (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, both sexes 6.1 years (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, male 6.22 years (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, female 5.97 years (2019)
All data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)?
- Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) was 43.76 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 44.21 million number in 2016.
- What is the lowest illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.11 million number in 1972.
- How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) rank for illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes?
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) ranks 23rd out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
- Is illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (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.