Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in India
India: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male was 62.52 million in 2023. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in India, 2001–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in India is 62.52 million, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 28.2% on the previous year and down 31.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in India peaked at 95.50 million in 2006 and was at its lowest, 62.52 million, in 2023.
India ranks 1st of 59 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 91.96 million | — |
| 2006 | 95.50 million | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 90.88 million | -4.8% |
| 2022 | 87.13 million | -4.1% |
| 2023 | 62.52 million | -28.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 93.73 million | 91.96 million | 95.50 million | 2 |
| 2010s | 90.88 million | 90.88 million | 90.88 million | 1 |
| 2020s | 74.82 million | 62.52 million | 87.13 million | 2 |
Countries ranked near India
More education data for India
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 60.33 million (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate -8.64 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), per capita 0.0412 units per person (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 65.78 million (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate -9.05 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), per capita 0.0449 units per person (2025)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 133.16 million (2025)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.25 % change on previous year (2025)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 5.19 million (2025)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 3.38 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in India?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in India was 62.52 million in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 95.50 million in 2006.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 62.52 million in 2023.
- How does India rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male?
- India ranks 1st out of 59 countries with data for 2023.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 5 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release