Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in China
China: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 37.04 million number in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in China, 1982–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2018, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in China stood at 37.04 million number. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
That represents a change of down 31.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in China peaked at 235.00 million number in 1982 and was at its lowest, 37.04 million number, in 2018.
China ranks 4th of 87 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in China, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 235.00 million number | — |
| 1990 | 186.79 million number | -20.5% |
| 2000 | 88.20 million number | -52.8% |
| 2010 | 54.13 million number | -38.6% |
| 2018 | 37.04 million number | -31.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 235.00 million number | 235.00 million number | 235.00 million number | 1 |
| 1990s | 186.79 million number | 186.79 million number | 186.79 million number | 1 |
| 2000s | 88.20 million number | 88.20 million number | 88.20 million number | 1 |
| 2010s | 45.58 million number | 37.04 million number | 54.13 million number | 2 |
Countries ranked near China
More education data for China
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.41 million (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 7,020 (2021)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 21.58 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 19.36 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 97.98 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 108.57 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.9587 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0771 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in China?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in China was 37.04 million number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 235.00 million number in 1982.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.04 million number in 2018.
- How does China rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- China ranks 4th out of 87 countries with data for 2018.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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.