Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Southern Asia (excluding India)
MDG: Southern Asia (excluding India): Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 113.78 million in 2024. ▬ Flat
Latest (2024)
113.78 million
Change on year
down 0.4%
Rank
70th
of 203 groups
All-time high
132.39 million
in 2012
All-time low
110.33 million
in 1990
Years of data
36
1989–2024
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Southern Asia (excluding India), 1989–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Southern Asia (excluding India) is 113.78 million, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 0.4% on the previous year and down 11.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Southern Asia (excluding India) peaked at 132.39 million in 2012 and was at its lowest, 110.33 million, in 1990.
That places MDG: Southern Asia (excluding India) 70th out of 203 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Southern Asia (excluding India), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 113.65 million | — |
| 1990 | 110.33 million | -2.9% |
| 1991 | 112.27 million | +1.8% |
| 1992 | 112.22 million | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 112.08 million | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 113.60 million | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 114.42 million | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 115.95 million | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 117.57 million | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 115.39 million | -1.8% |
| 1999 | 116.67 million | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 118.02 million | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 119.21 million | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 120.14 million | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 119.56 million | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 120.42 million | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 121.06 million | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 129.47 million | +6.9% |
| 2007 | 130.38 million | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 128.36 million | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 128.67 million | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 119.66 million | -7.0% |
| 2011 | 124.53 million | +4.1% |
| 2012 | 132.39 million | +6.3% |
| 2013 | 129.22 million | -2.4% |
| 2014 | 129.01 million | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 121.49 million | -5.8% |
| 2016 | 113.62 million | -6.5% |
| 2017 | 114.94 million | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 116.47 million | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 116.63 million | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 116.66 million | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 115.68 million | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 114.68 million | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 114.19 million | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 113.78 million | -0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 113.65 million | 113.65 million | 113.65 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 114.05 million | 110.33 million | 117.57 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 123.53 million | 118.02 million | 130.38 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 121.80 million | 113.62 million | 132.39 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 115.00 million | 113.78 million | 116.66 million | 5 |
More education data for MDG: Southern Asia (excluding India)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 4.49 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 3.65 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.68 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate -0.7828 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 24.83 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 3.99 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 26.38 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 3.33 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 16.69 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 6.02 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Southern Asia (excluding India)?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Southern Asia (excluding India) was 113.78 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in MDG: Southern Asia (excluding India)?
- The highest recorded value was 132.39 million in 2012.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in MDG: Southern Asia (excluding India)?
- The lowest recorded value was 110.33 million in 1990.
- How does MDG: Southern Asia (excluding India) rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- MDG: Southern Asia (excluding India) ranks 70th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in MDG: Southern Asia (excluding India)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this MDG: Southern Asia (excluding India) 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