Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: South Asia
WB: South Asia: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 266.85 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
266.85 million
Change on year
down 1.5%
Rank
33rd
of 203 groups
All-time high
327.58 million
in 2006
All-time low
266.85 million
in 2024
Years of data
26
1999–2024
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: South Asia, 1999–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
WB: South Asia recorded 266.85 million for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.
The figure is down 1.5% on the previous year and down 12.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: South Asia peaked at 327.58 million in 2006 and was at its lowest, 266.85 million, in 2024.
That places WB: South Asia 33rd 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 WB: South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 312.20 million | — |
| 2000 | 307.43 million | -1.5% |
| 2001 | 312.22 million | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 312.52 million | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 312.65 million | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 312.55 million | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 321.65 million | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 327.58 million | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 326.66 million | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 325.58 million | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 324.20 million | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 303.04 million | -6.5% |
| 2011 | 306.02 million | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 313.64 million | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 306.34 million | -2.3% |
| 2014 | 304.84 million | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 295.98 million | -2.9% |
| 2016 | 286.82 million | -3.1% |
| 2017 | 284.71 million | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 281.56 million | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 288.95 million | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 285.47 million | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 280.47 million | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 274.78 million | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 270.86 million | -1.4% |
| 2024 | 266.85 million | -1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 312.20 million | 312.20 million | 312.20 million | 1 |
| 2000s | 318.31 million | 307.43 million | 327.58 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 297.19 million | 281.56 million | 313.64 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 275.69 million | 266.85 million | 285.47 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near WB: South Asia
- 30 Malaysia 1.11 million compare
- 31 Honduras 761,211 compare
- 32 Lao People's Democratic Republic 688,200 compare
- 33 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 635,106 compare
- 34 Saudi Arabia 539,462 compare
- 35 Chile 529,430 compare
- 36 Ecuador 487,709 compare
More education data for WB: South Asia
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate 4.46 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate -1.3 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 74.44 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 3.24 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 5.84 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -2.02 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 152.88 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 77.39 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 160.82 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 4.5 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: South Asia?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: South Asia was 266.85 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in WB: South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 327.58 million in 2006.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in WB: South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 266.85 million in 2024.
- How does WB: South Asia rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- WB: South Asia ranks 33rd out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in WB: South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this WB: South 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