Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female in India
India: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female was 64.4% in 2018. ▲ Rising
Latest (2018)
64.4%
World rank
34th
of 87 countries
All-time high
65.0%
in 2006
All-time low
60.4%
in 1981
Years of data
6
1981–2018
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female in India, 1981–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female in India is 64.4%, measured in 2018.
The figure is down 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female in India peaked at 65.0% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 60.4%, in 1981.
India ranks 34th of 87 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 60.4% | — |
| 1991 | 61.7% | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 64.8% | +4.9% |
| 2006 | 65.0% | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 64.3% | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 64.4% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 60.4% | 60.4% | 60.4% | 1 |
| 1990s | 61.7% | 61.7% | 61.7% | 1 |
| 2000s | 64.9% | 64.8% | 65.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 64.3% | 64.3% | 64.4% | 2 |
Countries ranked near India
More education data for India
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 126.12 million (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -8.85 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0862 units per person (2025)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 126.12 million (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -8.85 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita 0.0862 units per person (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 60.33 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female in India?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female in India was 64.4% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 65.0% in 2006.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 60.4% in 1981.
- How does India rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female?
- India ranks 34th out of 87 countries with data for 2018.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the adult illiterate population (age 15+) that is female.