Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Southern Asia
MDG: Southern Asia: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 347.01 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Southern Asia, 1999–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Southern Asia is 347.01 million, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 8.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Southern Asia peaked at 397.21 million in 2006 and was at its lowest, 347.01 million, in 2024.
That places MDG: Southern Asia 22nd out of 203 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Southern Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 376.50 million | — |
| 2000 | 372.63 million | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 378.15 million | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 379.34 million | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 378.90 million | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 379.75 million | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 389.64 million | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 397.21 million | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 397.15 million | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 393.97 million | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 392.95 million | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 372.96 million | -5.1% |
| 2011 | 380.92 million | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 387.43 million | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 382.80 million | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 381.08 million | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 372.00 million | -2.4% |
| 2016 | 362.47 million | -2.6% |
| 2017 | 361.65 million | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 360.95 million | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 369.40 million | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 366.01 million | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 361.11 million | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 355.29 million | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 351.15 million | -1.2% |
| 2024 | 347.01 million | -1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 376.50 million | 376.50 million | 376.50 million | 1 |
| 2000s | 385.97 million | 372.63 million | 397.21 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 373.17 million | 360.95 million | 387.43 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 356.12 million | 347.01 million | 366.01 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near MDG: Southern Asia
More education data for MDG: Southern Asia
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 7.57 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -0.56 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 6.70 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 2.81 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 88.16 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.205 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 94.56 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate -1.26 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 54.48 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 28.18 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Southern Asia?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in MDG: Southern Asia was 347.01 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?
- The highest recorded value was 397.21 million in 2006.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in MDG: Southern Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 347.01 million in 2024.
- How does MDG: Southern Asia rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- MDG: Southern Asia ranks 22nd out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in MDG: Southern Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this MDG: Southern Asia 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 — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release