Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)
South Asia (IDA & IBRD): Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male was 130.41 million number in 2019. ▬ Flat
Latest (2019)
130.41 million number
Change on year
down 0.8%
Rank
9th
of 39 groups
All-time high
155.90 million number
in 1997
All-time low
123.27 million number
in 1975
Years of data
45
1975–2019
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in South Asia (IDA & IBRD), 1975–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
South Asia (IDA & IBRD) recorded 130.41 million number for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in 2019.
The figure is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 6.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in South Asia (IDA & IBRD) peaked at 155.90 million number in 1997 and was at its lowest, 123.27 million number, in 1975.
South Asia (IDA & IBRD) ranks 9th of 39 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in South Asia (IDA & IBRD), year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 123.27 million number | — |
| 1976 | 126.26 million number | +2.4% |
| 1977 | 127.97 million number | +1.4% |
| 1978 | 129.85 million number | +1.5% |
| 1979 | 131.91 million number | +1.6% |
| 1980 | 133.96 million number | +1.6% |
| 1981 | 137.75 million number | +2.8% |
| 1982 | 137.79 million number | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 139.68 million number | +1.4% |
| 1984 | 141.64 million number | +1.4% |
| 1985 | 143.68 million number | +1.4% |
| 1986 | 145.48 million number | +1.3% |
| 1987 | 147.43 million number | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 146.15 million number | -0.9% |
| 1989 | 147.71 million number | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 149.39 million number | +1.1% |
| 1991 | 152.89 million number | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 150.99 million number | -1.2% |
| 1993 | 150.79 million number | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 152.16 million number | +0.9% |
| 1995 | 153.51 million number | +0.9% |
| 1996 | 154.71 million number | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 155.90 million number | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 137.29 million number | -11.9% |
| 1999 | 138.38 million number | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 139.39 million number | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 141.92 million number | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 141.12 million number | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 139.99 million number | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 140.58 million number | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 141.91 million number | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 144.82 million number | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 146.21 million number | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 138.88 million number | -5.0% |
| 2009 | 138.82 million number | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 139.26 million number | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 141.29 million number | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 139.93 million number | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 139.58 million number | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 139.50 million number | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 137.34 million number | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 132.81 million number | -3.3% |
| 2017 | 132.10 million number | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 131.49 million number | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 130.41 million number | -0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 127.85 million number | 123.27 million number | 131.91 million number | 5 |
| 1980s | 142.13 million number | 133.96 million number | 147.71 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 149.60 million number | 137.29 million number | 155.90 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 141.36 million number | 138.82 million number | 146.21 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 136.37 million number | 130.41 million number | 141.29 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near South Asia (IDA & IBRD)
- 6 China 9.14 million number compare
- 7 Egypt 7.51 million number compare
- 8 Brazil 5.60 million number compare
- 9 Côte d'Ivoire 3.42 million number compare
- 10 Iran, Islamic Republic of 2.94 million number compare
- 11 Burkina Faso 2.67 million number compare
- 12 Mali 2.66 million number compare
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, male in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in South Asia (IDA & IBRD) was 130.41 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male recorded in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- The highest recorded value was 155.90 million number in 1997.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male recorded in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- The lowest recorded value was 123.27 million number in 1975.
- How does South Asia (IDA & IBRD) rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male?
- South Asia (IDA & IBRD) ranks 9th out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male rising or falling in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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, 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.