Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male was 549,576 number in 2018. ▲ Rising
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in Sri Lanka, 1981–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2018, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in Sri Lanka stood at 549,576 number.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.6% on the previous year and down 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in Sri Lanka peaked at 558,574 number in 2008 and was at its lowest, 433,972 number, in 1981.
That places Sri Lanka 39th out of 87 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 433,972 number | — |
| 2001 | 531,373 number | +22.4% |
| 2006 | 519,654 number | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 558,574 number | +7.5% |
| 2010 | 539,568 number | -3.4% |
| 2016 | 491,651 number | -8.9% |
| 2017 | 530,526 number | +7.9% |
| 2018 | 549,576 number | +3.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 433,972 number | 433,972 number | 433,972 number | 1 |
| 2000s | 536,534 number | 519,654 number | 558,574 number | 3 |
| 2010s | 527,830 number | 491,651 number | 549,576 number | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More education data for Sri Lanka
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 224,799 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 214,300 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.54 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.58 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -2.89 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0715 units per person (2023)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in Sri Lanka?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male in Sri Lanka was 549,576 number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 558,574 number in 2008.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 433,972 number in 1981.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male?
- Sri Lanka ranks 39th out of 87 countries with data for 2018.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, male rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.