Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in World
World: Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes was 515.16 million number in 2019. ▼ Falling
Latest (2019)
515.16 million number
Change on year
down 0.5%
Rank
1st
of 39 groups
All-time high
626.22 million number
in 1987
All-time low
515.16 million number
in 2019
Years of data
44
1976–2019
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in World, 1976–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in World is 515.16 million number, measured in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 44 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.5% on the previous year and down 3.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in World peaked at 626.22 million number in 1987 and was at its lowest, 515.16 million number, in 2019.
That places World 1st out of 39 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 44 years of available data.
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in World, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 586.47 million number | — |
| 1977 | 596.43 million number | +1.7% |
| 1978 | 601.02 million number | +0.8% |
| 1979 | 605.47 million number | +0.7% |
| 1980 | 612.51 million number | +1.2% |
| 1981 | 610.18 million number | -0.4% |
| 1982 | 605.53 million number | -0.8% |
| 1983 | 618.55 million number | +2.2% |
| 1984 | 619.76 million number | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 622.71 million number | +0.5% |
| 1986 | 624.64 million number | +0.3% |
| 1987 | 626.22 million number | +0.3% |
| 1988 | 596.58 million number | -4.7% |
| 1989 | 598.30 million number | +0.3% |
| 1990 | 598.74 million number | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 600.37 million number | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 601.35 million number | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 601.42 million number | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 601.09 million number | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 600.31 million number | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 599.47 million number | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 555.17 million number | -7.4% |
| 1998 | 529.41 million number | -4.6% |
| 1999 | 528.13 million number | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 523.98 million number | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 527.04 million number | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 526.26 million number | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 521.17 million number | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 518.87 million number | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 530.96 million number | +2.3% |
| 2006 | 531.32 million number | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 539.07 million number | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 534.34 million number | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 534.76 million number | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 528.66 million number | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 532.65 million number | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 531.31 million number | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 534.26 million number | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 527.70 million number | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 521.81 million number | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 517.94 million number | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 518.90 million number | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 517.71 million number | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 515.16 million number | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 597.35 million number | 586.47 million number | 605.47 million number | 4 |
| 1980s | 613.50 million number | 596.58 million number | 626.22 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 581.55 million number | 528.13 million number | 601.42 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 528.78 million number | 518.87 million number | 539.07 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 524.61 million number | 515.16 million number | 534.26 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near World
More reference data data for World
- Exposure to extreme temperature — Annual temperature change 1.3 Degrees celsius (2023)
- Exposure to extreme precipitation — Annual precipitation change -41.07 Millimetres per year (2023)
- School life expectancy, primary, both sexes 5.73 years (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 68.68 million number (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 64.37 million number (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 133.05 million number (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, male 5.79 years (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, female 5.67 years (2019)
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in general 89.7% (2019)
- School life expectancy, pre-primary, both sexes 1.61 years (2019)
Frequently asked questions
- What is illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in World?
- Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in World was 515.16 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in World?
- The highest recorded value was 626.22 million number in 1987.
- What is the lowest illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in World?
- The lowest recorded value was 515.16 million number in 2019.
- How does World rank for illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes?
- World ranks 1st out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
- Is illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in World?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this World 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.