Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in Pakistan
Pakistan: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female was 35.03 million number in 2017. ▲ Rising
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in Pakistan, 1981–2017
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
Pakistan recorded 35.03 million number for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in 2017. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.5% on the previous year and up 14.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in Pakistan peaked at 35.03 million number in 2017 and was at its lowest, 18.50 million number, in 1981.
That places Pakistan 2nd out of 87 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 18.50 million number | — |
| 1998 | 26.48 million number | +43.1% |
| 2005 | 30.20 million number | +14.0% |
| 2006 | 29.10 million number | -3.6% |
| 2007 | 30.60 million number | +5.1% |
| 2008 | 30.73 million number | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 31.55 million number | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 32.13 million number | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 32.50 million number | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 32.78 million number | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 34.32 million number | +4.7% |
| 2014 | 33.84 million number | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 35.03 million number | +3.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 18.50 million number | 18.50 million number | 18.50 million number | 1 |
| 1990s | 26.48 million number | 26.48 million number | 26.48 million number | 1 |
| 2000s | 30.44 million number | 29.10 million number | 31.55 million number | 5 |
| 2010s | 33.43 million number | 32.13 million number | 35.03 million number | 6 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More education data for Pakistan
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4.90 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 19.70 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 25.38 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 3.1 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.101 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 25.38 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 3.1 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in Pakistan?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in Pakistan was 35.03 million number in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female recorded in Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 35.03 million number in 2017.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.50 million number in 1981.
- How does Pakistan rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female?
- Pakistan ranks 2nd out of 87 countries with data for 2017.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Pakistan 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.