Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 25.25 million in 2022. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Bangladesh, 1991–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Bangladesh is 25.25 million, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 14 years on record.
The figure is down 9.8% on the previous year and down 41.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Bangladesh peaked at 44.86 million in 2001 and was at its lowest, 25.25 million, in 2022.
Bangladesh ranks 3rd of 59 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Bangladesh, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 41.92 million | — |
| 2001 | 44.86 million | +7.0% |
| 2011 | 41.73 million | -7.0% |
| 2012 | 43.41 million | +4.0% |
| 2013 | 40.95 million | -5.7% |
| 2014 | 41.60 million | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 37.96 million | -8.7% |
| 2016 | 30.24 million | -20.3% |
| 2017 | 30.64 million | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 29.87 million | -2.5% |
| 2019 | 29.35 million | -1.7% |
| 2020 | 29.47 million | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 28.00 million | -5.0% |
| 2022 | 25.25 million | -9.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 41.92 million | 41.92 million | 41.92 million | 1 |
| 2000s | 44.86 million | 44.86 million | 44.86 million | 1 |
| 2010s | 36.19 million | 29.35 million | 43.41 million | 9 |
| 2020s | 27.57 million | 25.25 million | 29.47 million | 3 |
Countries ranked near Bangladesh
More education data for Bangladesh
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 571,690 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 387,056 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.73 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.77 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 15.07 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 16.69 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.67 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0961 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Bangladesh?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Bangladesh was 25.25 million in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Bangladesh?
- The highest recorded value was 44.86 million in 2001.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Bangladesh?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.25 million in 2022.
- How does Bangladesh rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- Bangladesh ranks 3rd out of 59 countries with data for 2022.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Bangladesh?
- Over the last ten years it is down 41.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bangladesh data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release