Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Indonesia
Indonesia: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 8.53 million number in 2018. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Indonesia, 1980–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
Indonesia recorded 8.53 million number for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in 2018. That is the lowest value across all 11 years on record.
The figure is down 3.0% on the previous year and down 34.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Indonesia peaked at 28.25 million number in 1980 and was at its lowest, 8.53 million number, in 2018.
Indonesia ranks 10th of 87 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Indonesia, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 28.25 million number | — |
| 1990 | 21.19 million number | -25.0% |
| 2004 | 15.00 million number | -29.2% |
| 2006 | 12.99 million number | -13.4% |
| 2008 | 12.97 million number | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 12.45 million number | -4.0% |
| 2011 | 12.56 million number | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 8.99 million number | -28.4% |
| 2015 | 8.96 million number | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 8.79 million number | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 8.53 million number | -3.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 28.25 million number | 28.25 million number | 28.25 million number | 1 |
| 1990s | 21.19 million number | 21.19 million number | 21.19 million number | 1 |
| 2000s | 13.35 million number | 12.45 million number | 15.00 million number | 4 |
| 2010s | 9.57 million number | 8.53 million number | 12.56 million number | 5 |
Countries ranked near Indonesia
More education data for Indonesia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.35 million (2025)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.73 million (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.45 million (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 27.84 million (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 28.68 million (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1004 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Indonesia?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Indonesia was 8.53 million number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Indonesia?
- The highest recorded value was 28.25 million number in 1980.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Indonesia?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.53 million number in 2018.
- How does Indonesia rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- Indonesia ranks 10th out of 87 countries with data for 2018.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Indonesia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 34.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Indonesia 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.