Literacy rate, adult total in South Asia
South Asia: Literacy rate, adult total was 78.2% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, adult total in South Asia, 1975–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of people ages 15 and above.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rate, adult total in South Asia is 78.2%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 50 years on record.
The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 10.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, adult total in South Asia peaked at 78.2% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 37.4%, in 1975.
South Asia ranks 25th of 39 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 50 years of available data.
Literacy rate, adult total in South Asia, year by year
| Year | % of people ages 15 and above | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 37.4% | — |
| 1976 | 37.4% | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 38.1% | +1.8% |
| 1978 | 38.8% | +1.8% |
| 1979 | 39.5% | +1.7% |
| 1980 | 40.1% | +1.6% |
| 1981 | 40.7% | +1.5% |
| 1982 | 41.4% | +1.6% |
| 1983 | 42.1% | +1.6% |
| 1984 | 42.8% | +1.6% |
| 1985 | 43.4% | +1.6% |
| 1986 | 44.1% | +1.5% |
| 1987 | 44.8% | +1.5% |
| 1988 | 45.5% | +1.6% |
| 1989 | 46.3% | +1.7% |
| 1990 | 47.0% | +1.7% |
| 1991 | 47.8% | +1.6% |
| 1992 | 48.6% | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 49.4% | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 50.1% | +1.6% |
| 1995 | 51.0% | +1.6% |
| 1996 | 51.8% | +1.6% |
| 1997 | 52.6% | +1.6% |
| 1998 | 57.9% | +10.1% |
| 1999 | 58.7% | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 59.5% | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 60.3% | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 61.1% | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 61.9% | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 62.7% | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 62.4% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 62.5% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 63.4% | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 64.2% | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 65.0% | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 67.9% | +4.5% |
| 2011 | 68.7% | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 68.5% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 69.8% | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 70.6% | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 72.0% | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 73.3% | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 74.0% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 74.7% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 74.5% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 75.2% | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 76.1% | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 76.9% | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 77.6% | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 78.2% | +0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 38.3% | 37.4% | 39.5% | 5 |
| 1980s | 43.1% | 40.1% | 46.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 51.5% | 47.0% | 58.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 62.3% | 59.5% | 65.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 71.4% | 67.9% | 74.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 76.8% | 75.2% | 78.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
More education data for South Asia
- Population ages 0-14 24.6% (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 4.5 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0959 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 152.88 million (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 68.1% (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 160.82 million (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 5.84 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate, adult total in South Asia?
- Literacy rate, adult total in South Asia was 78.2% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest literacy rate, adult total recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 78.2% in 2024.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, adult total recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.4% in 1975.
- How does South Asia rank for literacy rate, adult total?
- South Asia ranks 25th out of 39 groups with data for 2024.
- Is literacy rate, adult total rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Asia data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.