Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female in South Asia
South Asia: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female was 63.5% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Latest (2019)
63.5%
Change on year
down 0.0%
Rank
14th
of 39 groups
All-time high
64.4%
in 2008
All-time low
59.2%
in 1975
Years of data
45
1975–2019
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female in South Asia, 1975–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
South Asia recorded 63.5% for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female in 2019.
That represents a change of down 1.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female in South Asia peaked at 64.4% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 59.2%, in 1975.
South Asia ranks 14th of 39 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female in South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 59.2% | — |
| 1976 | 59.2% | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 59.3% | +0.1% |
| 1978 | 59.3% | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 59.4% | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 59.4% | +0.1% |
| 1981 | 59.3% | -0.2% |
| 1982 | 59.4% | +0.3% |
| 1983 | 59.5% | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 59.5% | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 59.5% | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 59.5% | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 59.5% | -0.0% |
| 1988 | 60.3% | +1.4% |
| 1989 | 60.4% | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 60.4% | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 60.2% | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 60.7% | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 61.0% | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 61.1% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 61.2% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 61.2% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 61.3% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 63.1% | +2.9% |
| 1999 | 63.1% | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 63.1% | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 62.9% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 63.0% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 63.4% | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 63.4% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 64.0% | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 63.5% | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 63.5% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 64.4% | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 64.4% | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 63.2% | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 62.8% | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 63.1% | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 63.1% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 63.0% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 63.2% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 63.4% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 63.4% | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 63.5% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 63.5% | -0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 59.3% | 59.2% | 59.4% | 5 |
| 1980s | 59.6% | 59.3% | 60.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 61.3% | 60.2% | 63.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 63.5% | 62.9% | 64.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 63.2% | 62.8% | 63.5% | 10 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
More education data for South Asia
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 160.82 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 152.88 million (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 24.6% (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 68.1% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 5.84 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0959 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 4.5 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female in South Asia?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female in South Asia was 63.5% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 64.4% in 2008.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 59.2% in 1975.
- How does South Asia rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female?
- South Asia ranks 14th out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Asia 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.