India vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Illiterate population, 25-64 years, female

India
121.13 million number
in 2018
Sub-Saharan Africa
90.40 million number
in 2019
India rank
1st
Sub-Saharan Africa rank
12th

Illiterate population, 25-64 years, female over time

  • India
  • Sub-Saharan Africa
050.0M100.0M150.0M198120002019

How they compare

India currently reports 121.13 million number against 90.40 million number in Sub-Saharan Africa, a difference of 30.73 million number.

That makes India's figure about 1.3 times Sub-Saharan Africa's.

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

India ranks 1st and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 12th of 83 countries.

India has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade India Sub-Saharan Africa Difference Ahead
1990s 120.44 million number 55.67 million number 64.76 million number India
2000s 129.91 million number 66.98 million number 62.93 million number India
2010s 123.75 million number 84.68 million number 39.07 million number India

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher illiterate population, 25-64 years, female, India or Sub-Saharan Africa?
India, at 121.13 million number against 90.40 million number in Sub-Saharan Africa as of 2018.
What is the difference in illiterate population, 25-64 years, female between India and Sub-Saharan Africa?
30.73 million number, with India ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for India and Sub-Saharan Africa?
5 years are reported by both, from 1991 to 2018.
How do India and Sub-Saharan Africa rank globally for illiterate population, 25-64 years, female?
India ranks 1st and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 12th 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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India vs Sub-Saharan Africa: 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/india/sub-saharan-africa/

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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.