This chart shows the regional distribution of the global illiterate adult population in 2016, expressed as a percentage share of the total 750 million illiterate adults worldwide.
About: Share of Global Illiterate Population Living in Each Region (2016)
Overview of the data behind this chartAI Insight
Southern Asia alone accounts for nearly half of all illiterate adults globally, making it the single most critical region for literacy investment. Sub-Saharan Africa follows with more than a quarter of the global illiterate population, and together these two regions represent over three-quarters of the worldwide illiteracy burden. Eastern and South-Eastern Asia and Northern Africa and Western Asia each hold approximately one-tenth of the global total. By contrast, regions such as Central Asia, Europe and Northern America, and Oceania contribute less than 2% combined - reflecting the dramatic disparity in literacy development across the world.
Key Findings
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Share of Global Illiterate Population Living in Each Region (2016)
Data Insights
Numbers, trends & sources behind this chartCategory Rankings
Share of Global Illiterate Population (%) · 2016| # | Category | 2016 |
|---|---|---|
| 🥇 | Southern Asia | 49 |
| 🥈 | Sub-Saharan Africa | 27 |
| 🥉 | Eastern and South-Eastern Asia | 10 |
| 4 | Northern Africa and Western Asia | 9 |
| 5 | Latin America and the Caribbean | 4 |
| 6 | Remaining Regions Combined | 2 |
What This Data Shows
Auto-generated trend summaries per categoryFull Data Table
6 records across 1 yearData Sources & References
All external sources cited in this datasetRelated Charts
Youth Literacy Rate and 50-Year Progress by Region and Sex (2016) Related Chart
Youth vs Elderly Literacy Rate by Region (2016) Related Chart
Adult Literacy Rate Progress by Region: 1990 vs 2016 Related Chart
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