What is the difference in illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes between China and IBRD only?

251.54 million number, with IBRD only ahead.

How many years of comparable data are there for China and IBRD only?

5 years are reported by both, from 1982 to 2018.

Where does this data come from?

UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes (number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

China vs IBRD only: Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes

China

13.21 million number

in 2018

IBRD only

264.75 million number

in 2019

China rank

6th

IBRD only rank

7th

Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes over time

China
IBRD only

How they compare

IBRD only currently reports 264.75 million number against 13.21 million number in China, a difference of 251.54 million number.

That makes IBRD only's figure about 20.0 times China's.

Across all 5 years both countries report, IBRD only has been ahead every year.

China ranks 6th and IBRD only ranks 7th of 83 countries.

IBRD only has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	China	IBRD only	Difference	Ahead
1980s	159.30 million number	428.15 million number	268.85 million number	IBRD only
1990s	122.88 million number	411.33 million number	288.45 million number	IBRD only
2000s	41.85 million number	320.16 million number	278.31 million number	IBRD only
2010s	17.88 million number	281.84 million number	263.96 million number	IBRD only

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes, China or IBRD only?: IBRD only, at 264.75 million number against 13.21 million number in China as of 2019.
What is the difference in illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes between China and IBRD only?: 251.54 million number, with IBRD only ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for China and IBRD only?: 5 years are reported by both, from 1982 to 2018.
How do China and IBRD only rank globally for illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes?: China ranks 6th and IBRD only ranks 7th of 83 countries.
Where does this data come from?: UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes (number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Individual pages

About this data

Indicator: Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes (number)
Unit: number
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 122 places, 2,239 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Total number of adults from age 25 to age 64 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life.