Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female was 16.51 million number in 2019. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in Bangladesh, 1981–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
Bangladesh recorded 16.51 million number for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 13 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.9% on the previous year and down 36.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in Bangladesh peaked at 26.13 million number in 2007 and was at its lowest, 16.51 million number, in 2019.
That places Bangladesh 6th out of 87 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 13 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in Bangladesh, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 17.80 million number | — |
| 1991 | 21.92 million number | +23.1% |
| 2001 | 23.69 million number | +8.1% |
| 2007 | 26.13 million number | +10.3% |
| 2011 | 22.66 million number | -13.3% |
| 2012 | 23.58 million number | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 22.19 million number | -5.9% |
| 2014 | 22.59 million number | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 20.63 million number | -8.7% |
| 2016 | 16.77 million number | -18.7% |
| 2017 | 16.98 million number | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 16.66 million number | -1.9% |
| 2019 | 16.51 million number | -0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 17.80 million number | 17.80 million number | 17.80 million number | 1 |
| 1990s | 21.92 million number | 21.92 million number | 21.92 million number | 1 |
| 2000s | 24.91 million number | 23.69 million number | 26.13 million number | 2 |
| 2010s | 19.84 million number | 16.51 million number | 23.58 million number | 9 |
Countries ranked near Bangladesh
More education data for Bangladesh
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 571,690 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 387,056 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.73 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.77 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 15.07 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 16.69 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.67 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0961 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in Bangladesh?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in Bangladesh was 16.51 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female recorded in Bangladesh?
- The highest recorded value was 26.13 million number in 2007.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female recorded in Bangladesh?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.51 million number in 2019.
- How does Bangladesh rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female?
- Bangladesh ranks 6th out of 87 countries with data for 2019.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female rising or falling in Bangladesh?
- Over the last ten years it is down 36.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bangladesh 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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About this data
Total number of females over age 15 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life.