Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Pakistan
Pakistan: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 54.88 million number in 2017. ▲ Rising
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Pakistan, 1981–2017
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2017, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Pakistan stood at 54.88 million number. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.4% on the previous year and up 12.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Pakistan peaked at 54.88 million number in 2017 and was at its lowest, 34.27 million number, in 1981.
That places Pakistan 2nd out of 87 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 34.27 million number | — |
| 1998 | 44.38 million number | +29.5% |
| 2005 | 47.99 million number | +8.1% |
| 2006 | 45.60 million number | -5.0% |
| 2007 | 48.98 million number | +7.4% |
| 2008 | 47.57 million number | -2.9% |
| 2009 | 49.03 million number | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 49.96 million number | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 51.95 million number | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 51.01 million number | -1.8% |
| 2013 | 53.81 million number | +5.5% |
| 2014 | 53.57 million number | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 54.88 million number | +2.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 34.27 million number | 34.27 million number | 34.27 million number | 1 |
| 1990s | 44.38 million number | 44.38 million number | 44.38 million number | 1 |
| 2000s | 47.83 million number | 45.60 million number | 49.03 million number | 5 |
| 2010s | 52.53 million number | 49.96 million number | 54.88 million number | 6 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More education data for Pakistan
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.04 million (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 440,233 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 5.05 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4.90 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 19.70 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 25.38 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 3.1 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.101 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Pakistan?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Pakistan was 54.88 million number in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 54.88 million number in 2017.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.27 million number in 1981.
- How does Pakistan rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- Pakistan ranks 2nd out of 87 countries with data for 2017.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Pakistan 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.