Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male (number) (Adult male) in China
China: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male (number) (Adult male) was 9.14 million number in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in China, 1982–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
China recorded 9.14 million number for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in 2018. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is down 36.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in China peaked at 72.74 million number in 1982 and was at its lowest, 9.14 million number, in 2018.
That places China 6th out of 87 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top 10%.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male (number) (Adult male) in China, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 72.74 million number | — |
| 1990 | 55.82 million number | -23.3% |
| 2000 | 24.06 million number | -56.9% |
| 2010 | 14.29 million number | -40.6% |
| 2018 | 9.14 million number | -36.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 9.14 million number is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 349,418 number, 26.2× the median. (33 countries reporting)
- China's 9.14 million number is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 477,561 number, 19.1× the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 72.74 million number | 72.74 million number | 72.74 million number | 1 |
| 1990s | 55.82 million number | 55.82 million number | 55.82 million number | 1 |
| 2000s | 24.06 million number | 24.06 million number | 24.06 million number | 1 |
| 2010s | 11.71 million number | 9.14 million number | 14.29 million number | 2 |
Countries ranked near China
More education data for China
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 93.37 (1997)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 93.32 (1997)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.41 million (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 7,020 (2021)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 21.58 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 19.36 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 97.98 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 108.57 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.9587 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in China?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in China was 9.14 million number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 72.74 million number in 1982.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.14 million number in 2018.
- How does China rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male?
- China ranks 6th out of 87 countries with data for 2018.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 36.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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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About this data
Total number of males over age 15 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life.