Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)
South Asia (IDA & IBRD): Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female was 226.94 million number in 2019. ▲ Rising
Latest (2019)
226.94 million number
Change on year
down 0.9%
Rank
8th
of 39 groups
All-time high
254.70 million number
in 2007
All-time low
178.74 million number
in 1975
Years of data
45
1975–2019
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in South Asia (IDA & IBRD), 1975–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
South Asia (IDA & IBRD) recorded 226.94 million number for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in 2019.
That represents a change of down 0.9% on the previous year and down 9.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in South Asia (IDA & IBRD) peaked at 254.70 million number in 2007 and was at its lowest, 178.74 million number, in 1975.
South Asia (IDA & IBRD) ranks 8th of 39 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in South Asia (IDA & IBRD), year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 178.74 million number | — |
| 1976 | 183.17 million number | +2.5% |
| 1977 | 186.21 million number | +1.7% |
| 1978 | 189.40 million number | +1.7% |
| 1979 | 192.66 million number | +1.7% |
| 1980 | 196.00 million number | +1.7% |
| 1981 | 200.33 million number | +2.2% |
| 1982 | 202.01 million number | +0.8% |
| 1983 | 205.00 million number | +1.5% |
| 1984 | 208.04 million number | +1.5% |
| 1985 | 211.15 million number | +1.5% |
| 1986 | 213.81 million number | +1.3% |
| 1987 | 216.64 million number | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 222.32 million number | +2.6% |
| 1989 | 225.17 million number | +1.3% |
| 1990 | 228.10 million number | +1.3% |
| 1991 | 231.60 million number | +1.5% |
| 1992 | 233.60 million number | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 236.35 million number | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 239.11 million number | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 241.83 million number | +1.1% |
| 1996 | 244.27 million number | +1.0% |
| 1997 | 246.69 million number | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 234.36 million number | -5.0% |
| 1999 | 236.23 million number | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 237.92 million number | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 240.26 million number | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 240.47 million number | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 242.28 million number | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 243.18 million number | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 252.81 million number | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 252.01 million number | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 254.70 million number | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 250.72 million number | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 250.59 million number | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 239.48 million number | -4.4% |
| 2011 | 238.20 million number | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 239.49 million number | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 238.70 million number | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 237.55 million number | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 235.63 million number | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 230.53 million number | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 229.06 million number | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 228.89 million number | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 226.94 million number | -0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 186.04 million number | 178.74 million number | 192.66 million number | 5 |
| 1980s | 210.05 million number | 196.00 million number | 225.17 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 237.21 million number | 228.10 million number | 246.69 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 246.49 million number | 237.92 million number | 254.70 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 234.45 million number | 226.94 million number | 239.49 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near South Asia (IDA & IBRD)
More education data for South Asia (IDA & IBRD)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 160.82 million (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 5.84 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 152.88 million (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 68.1% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 24.6% (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 4.5 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0959 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in South Asia (IDA & IBRD) was 226.94 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female recorded in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- The highest recorded value was 254.70 million number in 2007.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female recorded in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- The lowest recorded value was 178.74 million number in 1975.
- How does South Asia (IDA & IBRD) rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female?
- South Asia (IDA & IBRD) ranks 8th out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female rising or falling in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Asia (IDA & IBRD) 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.