Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in GPE: South Asia Wb Fy24, December 2024
GPE: South Asia Wb Fy24, December 2024: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 106.67 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
106.67 million
Change on year
down 0.2%
Rank
76th
of 203 groups
All-time high
123.62 million
in 2012
All-time low
98.70 million
in 1990
Years of data
36
1989–2024
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in GPE: South Asia Wb Fy24, December 2024, 1989–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in GPE: South Asia Wb Fy24, December 2024 stood at 106.67 million.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 11.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in GPE: South Asia Wb Fy24, December 2024 peaked at 123.62 million in 2012 and was at its lowest, 98.70 million, in 1990.
That places GPE: South Asia Wb Fy24, December 2024 76th out of 203 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in GPE: South Asia Wb Fy24, December 2024, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 99.60 million | — |
| 1990 | 98.70 million | -0.9% |
| 1991 | 100.66 million | +2.0% |
| 1992 | 100.67 million | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 100.70 million | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 102.66 million | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 104.28 million | +1.6% |
| 1996 | 105.93 million | +1.6% |
| 1997 | 107.65 million | +1.6% |
| 1998 | 105.56 million | -1.9% |
| 1999 | 106.90 million | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 108.33 million | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 109.59 million | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 110.60 million | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 110.52 million | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 111.48 million | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 112.20 million | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 119.99 million | +6.9% |
| 2007 | 120.99 million | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 121.30 million | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 121.75 million | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 112.88 million | -7.3% |
| 2011 | 115.10 million | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 123.62 million | +7.4% |
| 2013 | 120.44 million | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 120.22 million | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 112.86 million | -6.1% |
| 2016 | 105.05 million | -6.9% |
| 2017 | 106.53 million | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 108.23 million | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 108.57 million | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 108.77 million | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 108.05 million | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 107.26 million | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 106.93 million | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 106.67 million | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 99.60 million | 99.60 million | 99.60 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 103.37 million | 98.70 million | 107.65 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 114.68 million | 108.33 million | 121.75 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 113.35 million | 105.05 million | 123.62 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 107.53 million | 106.67 million | 108.77 million | 5 |
More education data for GPE: South Asia Wb Fy24, December 2024
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 5.23 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 3.86 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.41 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate -1.22 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 21.54 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 4.26 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 22.89 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 3.49 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 15.74 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 4.26 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in GPE: South Asia Wb Fy24, December 2024?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in GPE: South Asia Wb Fy24, December 2024 was 106.67 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in GPE: South Asia Wb Fy24, December 2024?
- The highest recorded value was 123.62 million in 2012.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in GPE: South Asia Wb Fy24, December 2024?
- The lowest recorded value was 98.70 million in 1990.
- How does GPE: South Asia Wb Fy24, December 2024 rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- GPE: South Asia Wb Fy24, December 2024 ranks 76th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in GPE: South Asia Wb Fy24, December 2024?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this GPE: South Asia Wb Fy24, December 2024 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