Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 30.00 million number in 2019. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Bangladesh, 1981–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
Bangladesh recorded 30.00 million number for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 13 years on record.
The figure is down 1.3% on the previous year and down 40.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Bangladesh peaked at 50.47 million number in 2007 and was at its lowest, 30.00 million number, in 2019.
Bangladesh ranks 6th of 87 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 13 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Bangladesh, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 32.00 million number | — |
| 1991 | 39.73 million number | +24.2% |
| 2001 | 43.33 million number | +9.1% |
| 2007 | 50.47 million number | +16.5% |
| 2011 | 42.12 million number | -16.5% |
| 2012 | 43.91 million number | +4.2% |
| 2013 | 41.46 million number | -5.6% |
| 2014 | 42.13 million number | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 38.47 million number | -8.7% |
| 2016 | 30.63 million number | -20.4% |
| 2017 | 31.04 million number | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 30.39 million number | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 30.00 million number | -1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 32.00 million number | 32.00 million number | 32.00 million number | 1 |
| 1990s | 39.73 million number | 39.73 million number | 39.73 million number | 1 |
| 2000s | 46.90 million number | 43.33 million number | 50.47 million number | 2 |
| 2010s | 36.68 million number | 30.00 million number | 43.91 million number | 9 |
Countries ranked near Bangladesh
More education data for Bangladesh
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 571,690 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 387,056 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.73 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.77 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 15.07 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 16.69 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.67 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0961 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Bangladesh?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Bangladesh was 30.00 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Bangladesh?
- The highest recorded value was 50.47 million number in 2007.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Bangladesh?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.00 million number in 2019.
- How does Bangladesh rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- Bangladesh ranks 6th out of 87 countries with data for 2019.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Bangladesh?
- Over the last ten years it is down 40.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bangladesh 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
Total number of adults over age 15 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life.