Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes in India

India: Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes was 45.66 million number in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
45.66 million number
World rank
1st
of 82 countries
All-time high
45.66 million number
in 2018
All-time low
20.55 million number
in 1981
Years of data
6
1981–2018

Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes in India, 1981–2018

010.0M20.0M30.0M40.0M50.0M1981199920181981: 20.5M number1991: 25.2M number2001: 31.0M number2006: 37.0M number2011: 38.0M number2018: 45.7M number

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

In 2018, elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes in India stood at 45.66 million number. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 23.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes in India peaked at 45.66 million number in 2018 and was at its lowest, 20.55 million number, in 1981.

India ranks 1st of 82 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes in India, year by year

Annual values for Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes (number) in India, 1981 to 2018.
Year number Change
1981 20.55 million number —
1991 25.21 million number +22.7%
2001 30.99 million number +23.0%
2006 37.00 million number +19.4%
2011 38.04 million number +2.8%
2018 45.66 million number +20.0%

India compared with similar countries

  • India's 45.66 million number is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 321,886 number, 141.8× the median. (26 countries reporting)
  • India's 45.66 million number is above the median for South Asia, which is 1.23 million number, 37.2× the median. (5 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 20.55 million number 20.55 million number 20.55 million number 1
1990s 25.21 million number 25.21 million number 25.21 million number 1
2000s 34.00 million number 30.99 million number 37.00 million number 2
2010s 41.85 million number 38.04 million number 45.66 million number 2

Countries ranked near India

  1. 2 China 23.46 million number compare
  2. 3 Pakistan 6.75 million number compare
  3. 4 Bangladesh 5.16 million number compare

See the full ranking of 120 places →

More reference data data for India

All data for India →

Frequently asked questions

What is elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes in India?
Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes in India was 45.66 million number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes recorded in India?
The highest recorded value was 45.66 million number in 2018.
What is the lowest elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes recorded in India?
The lowest recorded value was 20.55 million number in 1981.
How does India rank for elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes?
India ranks 1st out of 82 countries with data for 2018.
Is elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes rising or falling in India?
Over the last ten years it is up 23.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this India data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes in India. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 29 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/elderly-illiterate-population-65-years-both-sexes-number/india/

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About this data

Indicator
Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
120 places, 2,196 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Total number of adults over age 65 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life.