Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Indonesia
Indonesia: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 8.11 million in 2020. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Indonesia, 1990–2020
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Indonesia is 8.11 million, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 12 years on record.
The figure is down 5.5% on the previous year and down 40.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Indonesia peaked at 21.42 million in 1990 and was at its lowest, 8.11 million, in 2020.
That places Indonesia 8th out of 59 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Indonesia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 21.42 million | — |
| 2004 | 15.34 million | -28.4% |
| 2006 | 13.29 million | -13.4% |
| 2008 | 13.27 million | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 12.75 million | -3.9% |
| 2010 | 13.54 million | +6.2% |
| 2011 | 12.85 million | -5.1% |
| 2014 | 9.15 million | -28.8% |
| 2015 | 9.09 million | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 8.90 million | -2.0% |
| 2018 | 8.58 million | -3.6% |
| 2020 | 8.11 million | -5.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 21.42 million | 21.42 million | 21.42 million | 1 |
| 2000s | 13.67 million | 12.75 million | 15.34 million | 4 |
| 2010s | 10.35 million | 8.58 million | 13.54 million | 6 |
| 2020s | 8.11 million | 8.11 million | 8.11 million | 1 |
Countries ranked near Indonesia
- 5 Brazil 11.07 million compare
- 6 Iran, Islamic Republic of 9.11 million compare
- 7 Morocco 8.66 million compare
- 9 Burkina Faso 8.02 million compare
- 10 Mali 6.71 million compare
- 11 Mozambique 6.68 million compare
More education data for Indonesia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.35 million (2025)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.73 million (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.45 million (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 27.84 million (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 28.68 million (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1004 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Indonesia?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Indonesia was 8.11 million in 2020, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Indonesia?
- The highest recorded value was 21.42 million in 1990.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Indonesia?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.11 million in 2020.
- How does Indonesia rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- Indonesia ranks 8th out of 59 countries with data for 2020.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Indonesia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 40.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Indonesia 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 12 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release