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

China
9.52 million number
in 2018
South Asia
167.82 million number
in 2019
China rank
5th
South Asia rank
7th

Illiterate population, 25-64 years, female over time

  • China
  • South Asia
050.0M100.0M150.0M200.0M197519972019

How they compare

South Asia currently reports 167.82 million number against 9.52 million number in China, a difference of 158.30 million number.

That makes South Asia's figure about 17.6 times China's.

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

China ranks 5th 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 110.98 million number 132.77 million number 21.79 million number South Asia
1990s 87.53 million number 152.60 million number 65.07 million number South Asia
2000s 31.12 million number 165.24 million number 134.12 million number South Asia
2010s 13.08 million number 171.78 million number 158.70 million number South Asia

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher illiterate population, 25-64 years, female, China or South Asia?
South Asia, at 167.82 million number against 9.52 million number in China as of 2019.
What is the difference in illiterate population, 25-64 years, female between China and South Asia?
158.30 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, female?
China ranks 5th 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, female (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, female. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 25 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/compare/illiterate-population-25-64-years-female-number/china/south-asia/

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About this data

Indicator
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, female (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
122 places, 2,240 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

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