Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Singapore
Singapore: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 128,380 number in 2018. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Singapore, 1980–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Singapore is 128,380 number, measured in 2018. That is the lowest value across all 12 years on record.
That represents a change of down 4.4% on the previous year and down 27.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Singapore peaked at 300,854 number in 1980 and was at its lowest, 128,380 number, in 2018.
Singapore ranks 64th of 87 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Singapore, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 300,854 number | — |
| 1990 | 259,191 number | -13.8% |
| 2000 | 239,078 number | -7.8% |
| 2010 | 176,425 number | -26.2% |
| 2011 | 166,427 number | -5.7% |
| 2012 | 161,837 number | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 156,731 number | -3.2% |
| 2014 | 151,515 number | -3.3% |
| 2015 | 148,582 number | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 140,165 number | -5.7% |
| 2017 | 134,248 number | -4.2% |
| 2018 | 128,380 number | -4.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 300,854 number | 300,854 number | 300,854 number | 1 |
| 1990s | 259,191 number | 259,191 number | 259,191 number | 1 |
| 2000s | 239,078 number | 239,078 number | 239,078 number | 1 |
| 2010s | 151,590 number | 128,380 number | 176,425 number | 9 |
Countries ranked near Singapore
More education data for Singapore
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 13,601 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 336 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 9,429 (1989)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 8,429 (1989)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 163,746 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 238,816 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.4 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0404 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Singapore?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in Singapore was 128,380 number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Singapore?
- The highest recorded value was 300,854 number in 1980.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Singapore?
- The lowest recorded value was 128,380 number in 2018.
- How does Singapore rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- Singapore ranks 64th out of 87 countries with data for 2018.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Singapore?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Singapore 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.