Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income): Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes was 147.16 million number in 2019. ▲ Rising
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), 1985–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2019, illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) stood at 147.16 million number. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of 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 Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) peaked at 147.16 million number in 2019 and was at its lowest, 81.25 million number, in 1985.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) 14th out of 38 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 81.25 million number | — |
| 1986 | 82.67 million number | +1.7% |
| 1987 | 83.77 million number | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 84.95 million number | +1.4% |
| 1989 | 86.54 million number | +1.9% |
| 1990 | 87.75 million number | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 89.01 million number | +1.4% |
| 1992 | 90.60 million number | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 91.90 million number | +1.4% |
| 1994 | 93.04 million number | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 94.92 million number | +2.0% |
| 1996 | 95.63 million number | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 96.13 million number | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 96.69 million number | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 97.56 million number | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 102.26 million number | +4.8% |
| 2001 | 102.81 million number | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 104.84 million number | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 106.40 million number | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 107.39 million number | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 111.47 million number | +3.8% |
| 2006 | 111.11 million number | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 122.56 million number | +10.3% |
| 2008 | 125.64 million number | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 128.24 million number | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 130.49 million number | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 130.25 million number | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 130.40 million number | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 132.33 million number | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 133.65 million number | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 135.82 million number | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 137.97 million number | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 141.70 million number | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 144.02 million number | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 147.16 million number | +2.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 83.84 million number | 81.25 million number | 86.54 million number | 5 |
| 1990s | 93.32 million number | 87.75 million number | 97.56 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 112.27 million number | 102.26 million number | 128.24 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 136.38 million number | 130.25 million number | 147.16 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
- 11 Nepal 4.56 million number compare
- 12 Indonesia 4.38 million number compare
- 13 Burkina Faso 4.31 million number compare
- 14 Mali 4.07 million number compare
- 15 Mozambique 3.92 million number compare
- 16 Uganda 3.90 million number compare
- 17 Tanzania, United Republic of 3.83 million number compare
More reference data data for Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 15.80 million number (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, both sexes 6.17 years (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 16.21 million number (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 32.02 million number (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, male 6.33 years (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, female 6.02 years (2019)
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in general 94.2% (2018)
- School life expectancy, pre-primary, both sexes 0.7795 years (2019)
- Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, adjusted gender parity 0.7648 GPIA (2018)
- Teachers in primary education, male 2.57 million number (2019)
Frequently asked questions
- What is illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) was 147.16 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 147.16 million number in 2019.
- What is the lowest illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 81.25 million number in 1985.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) rank for illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 14th out of 38 groups with data for 2019.
- Is illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (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.