Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in India
India: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female was 128.19 million in 2023. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in India, 2001–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2023, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in India stood at 128.19 million. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
That represents a change of down 17.4% on the previous year and down 23.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in India peaked at 178.78 million in 2006 and was at its lowest, 128.19 million, in 2023.
That places India 1st out of 59 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 170.06 million | — |
| 2006 | 178.78 million | +5.1% |
| 2011 | 167.34 million | -6.4% |
| 2022 | 155.15 million | -7.3% |
| 2023 | 128.19 million | -17.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 174.42 million | 170.06 million | 178.78 million | 2 |
| 2010s | 167.34 million | 167.34 million | 167.34 million | 1 |
| 2020s | 141.67 million | 128.19 million | 155.15 million | 2 |
Countries ranked near India
More education data for India
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 133.16 million (2025)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.25 % change on previous year (2025)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 5.19 million (2025)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 3.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 64.76 million (2025)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 2.25 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 68.40 million (2025)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.3178 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 37.89 million (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 0.2585 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in India?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in India was 128.19 million in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 178.78 million in 2006.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 128.19 million in 2023.
- How does India rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female?
- India ranks 1st out of 59 countries with data for 2023.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 5 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release