Indonesia vs South Asia: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes

Indonesia
96.8%
in 2018
South Asia
70.0%
in 2019
Indonesia rank
27th
South Asia rank
28th

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes over time

  • Indonesia
  • South Asia
406080100197519972019

How they compare

Indonesia currently reports 96.8% against 70.0% in South Asia, a difference of 26.8%.

That makes Indonesia's figure about 1.4 times South Asia's.

Across all 11 years both countries report, Indonesia has been ahead every year.

Indonesia ranks 27th and South Asia ranks 28th of 83 countries.

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

Head to head by decade

Decade Indonesia South Asia Difference Ahead
1980s 65.6% 34.5% 31.1% Indonesia
1990s 79.6% 41.5% 38.1% Indonesia
2000s 92.5% 57.9% 34.6% Indonesia
2010s 95.9% 66.0% 29.9% Indonesia

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes, Indonesia or South Asia?
Indonesia, at 96.8% against 70.0% in South Asia as of 2018.
What is the difference in literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes between Indonesia and South Asia?
26.8%, with Indonesia ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Indonesia and South Asia?
11 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2018.
How do Indonesia and South Asia rank globally for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
Indonesia ranks 27th and South Asia ranks 28th of 83 countries.
Where does this data come from?
UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Indonesia vs South Asia: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/compare/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-both-sexes-percent/indonesia/south-asia/

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About this data

Indicator
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
122 places, 2,220 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Percentage of the population between age 25 and age 64 who can, with understanding, read and write a short, simple statement on their everyday life. Generally, ‘literacy’ also encompasses ‘numeracy’, the ability to make simple arithmetic calculations. This indicator is calculated by dividing the number of literates aged 25-64 years by the corresponding age group population and multiplying the result by 100.