Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes in South Asia
South Asia: Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes was 61.56 million number in 2019. ▲ Rising
Latest (2019)
61.56 million number
Change on year
up 2.1%
Rank
7th
of 37 groups
All-time high
61.56 million number
in 2019
All-time low
21.82 million number
in 1975
Years of data
45
1975–2019
Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes in South Asia, 1975–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2019, elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes in South Asia stood at 61.56 million number. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 17.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes in South Asia peaked at 61.56 million number in 2019 and was at its lowest, 21.82 million number, in 1975.
That places South Asia 7th out of 37 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes in South Asia, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 21.82 million number | — |
| 1976 | 22.59 million number | +3.5% |
| 1977 | 23.33 million number | +3.3% |
| 1978 | 24.04 million number | +3.1% |
| 1979 | 24.73 million number | +2.9% |
| 1980 | 25.40 million number | +2.7% |
| 1981 | 26.32 million number | +3.6% |
| 1982 | 27.04 million number | +2.7% |
| 1983 | 27.79 million number | +2.8% |
| 1984 | 28.51 million number | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 29.22 million number | +2.5% |
| 1986 | 30.13 million number | +3.1% |
| 1987 | 30.68 million number | +1.8% |
| 1988 | 30.23 million number | -1.5% |
| 1989 | 30.88 million number | +2.2% |
| 1990 | 31.55 million number | +2.1% |
| 1991 | 32.67 million number | +3.6% |
| 1992 | 33.66 million number | +3.0% |
| 1993 | 34.75 million number | +3.2% |
| 1994 | 35.89 million number | +3.3% |
| 1995 | 36.98 million number | +3.0% |
| 1996 | 38.31 million number | +3.6% |
| 1997 | 39.48 million number | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 37.20 million number | -5.8% |
| 1999 | 38.31 million number | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 39.44 million number | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 41.00 million number | +4.0% |
| 2002 | 42.18 million number | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 43.54 million number | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 44.91 million number | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 47.11 million number | +4.9% |
| 2006 | 48.59 million number | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 50.20 million number | +3.3% |
| 2008 | 50.97 million number | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 52.27 million number | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 49.96 million number | -4.4% |
| 2011 | 51.31 million number | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 52.73 million number | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 54.05 million number | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 55.06 million number | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 56.47 million number | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 57.39 million number | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 58.78 million number | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 60.27 million number | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 61.56 million number | +2.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 23.30 million number | 21.82 million number | 24.73 million number | 5 |
| 1980s | 28.62 million number | 25.40 million number | 30.88 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 35.88 million number | 31.55 million number | 39.48 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 46.02 million number | 39.44 million number | 52.27 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.76 million number | 49.96 million number | 61.56 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
More reference data data for South Asia
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 102.17 (2026)
- CPI Price, nominal 246.03 (2026)
- CPI Price, nominal, seas. adj. 247.05 (2026)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 16.19 million number (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 33.83 million number (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 17.64 million number (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, both sexes 5.02 years (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, male 5.06 years (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, female 4.98 years (2019)
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in general 98.2% (2019)
Frequently asked questions
- What is elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes in South Asia?
- Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes in South Asia was 61.56 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 61.56 million number in 2019.
- What is the lowest elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.82 million number in 1975.
- How does South Asia rank for elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes?
- South Asia ranks 7th out of 37 groups with data for 2019.
- Is elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Asia 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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About this data
Total number of adults over age 65 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life.