Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in South Asia
South Asia: 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, 1975–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2019, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in South Asia stood at 357.35 million number.
That represents a change of 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 peaked at 402.59 million number in 1997 and was at its lowest, 302.00 million number, in 1975.
South Asia ranks 8th of 39 groups on this measure, 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, 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
- 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
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 160.82 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 152.88 million (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 24.6% (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 68.1% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 5.84 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0959 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 4.5 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in South Asia?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in South Asia 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?
- 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?
- The lowest recorded value was 302.00 million number in 1975.
- How does South Asia rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- South Asia ranks 8th out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in South Asia?
- 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 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.