Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in WB: South Asia
WB: South Asia: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female was 171.17 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
171.17 million
Change on year
down 1.4%
Rank
29th
of 203 groups
All-time high
210.31 million
in 2006
All-time low
171.17 million
in 2024
Years of data
26
1999–2024
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in WB: South Asia, 1999–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
WB: South Asia recorded 171.17 million for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.
The figure is down 1.4% on the previous year and down 11.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in WB: South Asia peaked at 210.31 million in 2006 and was at its lowest, 171.17 million, in 2024.
WB: South Asia ranks 29th of 203 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in WB: South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 199.01 million | — |
| 2000 | 195.81 million | -1.6% |
| 2001 | 198.88 million | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 199.15 million | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 199.29 million | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 199.28 million | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 207.84 million | +4.3% |
| 2006 | 210.31 million | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 209.72 million | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 209.07 million | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 208.15 million | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 192.61 million | -7.5% |
| 2011 | 195.18 million | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 198.90 million | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 195.08 million | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 193.90 million | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 189.35 million | -2.3% |
| 2016 | 184.44 million | -2.6% |
| 2017 | 182.83 million | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 180.61 million | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 184.35 million | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 182.13 million | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 179.30 million | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 176.04 million | -1.8% |
| 2023 | 173.64 million | -1.4% |
| 2024 | 171.17 million | -1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 199.01 million | 199.01 million | 199.01 million | 1 |
| 2000s | 203.75 million | 195.81 million | 210.31 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 189.73 million | 180.61 million | 198.90 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 176.46 million | 171.17 million | 182.13 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near WB: South Asia
More education data for WB: South Asia
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate 4.46 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate -1.3 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 74.44 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 3.24 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 5.84 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -2.02 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 152.88 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 77.39 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 160.82 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 4.5 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in WB: South Asia?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in WB: South Asia was 171.17 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female recorded in WB: South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 210.31 million in 2006.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female recorded in WB: South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 171.17 million in 2024.
- How does WB: South Asia rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female?
- WB: South Asia ranks 29th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female rising or falling in WB: South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this WB: South Asia 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release