Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)
South Asia (IDA & IBRD): Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 357.35 million number in 2019. ▲ Rising
Latest (2019)
357.35 million number
Change on year
down 0.8%
Rank
8th
of 39 groups
All-time high
402.59 million number
in 1997
All-time low
302.00 million number
in 1975
Years of data
45
1975–2019
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in South Asia (IDA & IBRD), 1975–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
South Asia (IDA & IBRD) recorded 357.35 million number for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in 2019.
The figure is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 8.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in South Asia (IDA & IBRD) peaked at 402.59 million number in 1997 and was at its lowest, 302.00 million number, in 1975.
That places South Asia (IDA & IBRD) 8th out of 39 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in South Asia (IDA & IBRD), year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 302.00 million number | — |
| 1976 | 309.43 million number | +2.5% |
| 1977 | 314.18 million number | +1.5% |
| 1978 | 319.25 million number | +1.6% |
| 1979 | 324.57 million number | +1.7% |
| 1980 | 329.95 million number | +1.7% |
| 1981 | 338.08 million number | +2.5% |
| 1982 | 339.80 million number | +0.5% |
| 1983 | 344.68 million number | +1.4% |
| 1984 | 349.69 million number | +1.5% |
| 1985 | 354.83 million number | +1.5% |
| 1986 | 359.30 million number | +1.3% |
| 1987 | 364.07 million number | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 368.48 million number | +1.2% |
| 1989 | 372.88 million number | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 377.49 million number | +1.2% |
| 1991 | 384.49 million number | +1.9% |
| 1992 | 384.59 million number | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 387.14 million number | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 391.27 million number | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 395.34 million number | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 398.98 million number | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 402.59 million number | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 371.65 million number | -7.7% |
| 1999 | 374.61 million number | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 377.32 million number | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 382.18 million number | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 381.59 million number | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 382.27 million number | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 383.76 million number | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 394.72 million number | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 396.84 million number | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 400.91 million number | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 389.60 million number | -2.8% |
| 2009 | 389.41 million number | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 378.73 million number | -2.7% |
| 2011 | 379.49 million number | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 379.42 million number | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 378.28 million number | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 377.05 million number | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 372.97 million number | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 363.34 million number | -2.6% |
| 2017 | 361.16 million number | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 360.37 million number | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 357.35 million number | -0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 313.89 million number | 302.00 million number | 324.57 million number | 5 |
| 1980s | 352.17 million number | 329.95 million number | 372.88 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 386.81 million number | 371.65 million number | 402.59 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 387.86 million number | 377.32 million number | 400.91 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 370.82 million number | 357.35 million number | 379.49 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near South Asia (IDA & IBRD)
- 5 Ethiopia 30.15 million number compare
- 6 Bangladesh 30.00 million number compare
- 7 Egypt 18.52 million number compare
- 8 Brazil 11.17 million number compare
- 9 Iran, Islamic Republic of 8.70 million number compare
- 10 Indonesia 8.53 million number compare
- 11 Côte d'Ivoire 7.69 million number compare
More education data for South Asia (IDA & IBRD)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 160.82 million (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 5.84 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 152.88 million (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 68.1% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 24.6% (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 4.5 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0959 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in South Asia (IDA & IBRD) was 357.35 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- The highest recorded value was 402.59 million number in 1997.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- The lowest recorded value was 302.00 million number in 1975.
- How does South Asia (IDA & IBRD) rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- South Asia (IDA & IBRD) ranks 8th out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Asia (IDA & IBRD) 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.