China vs South Asia: Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes

China
13.21 million number
in 2018
South Asia
261.74 million number
in 2019
China rank
6th
South Asia rank
7th

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

  • China
  • South Asia
0100.0M200.0M300.0M197519972019

How they compare

South Asia currently reports 261.74 million number against 13.21 million number in China, a difference of 248.53 million number.

That makes South Asia's figure about 19.8 times China's.

Across all 5 years both countries report, South Asia has been ahead every year.

China ranks 6th and South Asia ranks 7th of 83 countries.

South Asia has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade China South Asia Difference Ahead
1980s 159.30 million number 223.25 million number 63.95 million number South Asia
1990s 122.88 million number 253.16 million number 130.27 million number South Asia
2000s 41.85 million number 261.65 million number 219.80 million number South Asia
2010s 17.88 million number 268.67 million number 250.79 million number South Asia

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes, China or South Asia?
South Asia, at 261.74 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 South Asia?
248.53 million number, with South Asia ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for China and South Asia?
5 years are reported by both, from 1982 to 2018.
How do China and South Asia rank globally for illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes?
China ranks 6th and South Asia 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.

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China vs South Asia: Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 29 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/compare/illiterate-population-25-64-years-both-sexes-number/china/south-asia/

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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

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.