Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in Nepal
Nepal: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female was 4.46 million number in 2018. ▲ Rising
Latest (2018)
4.46 million number
World rank
12th
of 87 countries
All-time high
4.81 million number
in 2001
All-time low
4.13 million number
in 1981
Years of data
5
1981–2018
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in Nepal, 1981–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2018, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in Nepal stood at 4.46 million number.
That represents a change of down 4.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in Nepal peaked at 4.81 million number in 2001 and was at its lowest, 4.13 million number, in 1981.
Nepal ranks 12th of 87 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in Nepal, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 4.13 million number | — |
| 1991 | 4.72 million number | +14.4% |
| 2001 | 4.81 million number | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 4.68 million number | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 4.46 million number | -4.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4.13 million number | 4.13 million number | 4.13 million number | 1 |
| 1990s | 4.72 million number | 4.72 million number | 4.72 million number | 1 |
| 2000s | 4.81 million number | 4.81 million number | 4.81 million number | 1 |
| 2010s | 4.57 million number | 4.46 million number | 4.68 million number | 2 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
- 9 Iran, Islamic Republic of 5.76 million number compare
- 10 Brazil 5.56 million number compare
- 11 Morocco 4.74 million number compare
- 13 Côte d'Ivoire 4.27 million number compare
- 14 Mozambique 4.14 million number compare
- 15 Tanzania, United Republic of 3.88 million number compare
More education data for Nepal
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 3.67 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -0.7265 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 157,456 (2025)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate -2.05 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.80 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate -1.38 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.87 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate -0.0951 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.36 million (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 12.06 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in Nepal?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in Nepal was 4.46 million number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 4.81 million number in 2001.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.13 million number in 1981.
- How does Nepal rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female?
- Nepal ranks 12th out of 87 countries with data for 2018.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nepal 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.