Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes was 468,087 number in 2018. β–² Rising

Latest (2018)
468,087 number
Change on year
up 10.1%
World rank
26th
of 82 countries
All-time high
468,087 number
in 2018
All-time low
206,854 number
in 1981
Years of data
8
1981–2018

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

0100.0k200.0k300.0k400.0k500.0k1981199920181981: 206.9k number2001: 275.4k number2006: 363.4k number2008: 370.6k number2010: 354.2k number2016: 394.3k number2017: 425.1k number2018: 468.1k number

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

The most recent figure for elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes in Sri Lanka is 468,087 number, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.

That represents a change of up 10.1% on the previous year and up 26.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes in Sri Lanka peaked at 468,087 number in 2018 and was at its lowest, 206,854 number, in 1981.

That places Sri Lanka 26th out of 82 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 206,854 number 206,854 number 206,854 number 1
2000s 336,438 number 275,396 number 370,557 number 3
2010s 410,428 number 354,245 number 468,087 number 4

Countries ranked near Sri Lanka

  1. 23 Malaysia 514,298 number compare
  2. 24 Tunisia 513,126 number compare
  3. 25 Uganda 480,705 number compare
  4. 27 Spain 433,822 number compare
  5. 28 Burkina Faso 427,270 number compare
  6. 29 Cameroon 408,771 number compare

See the full ranking of 120 places β†’

More reference data data for Sri Lanka

All data for Sri Lanka β†’

Frequently asked questions

What is elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes in Sri Lanka?
Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes in Sri Lanka was 468,087 number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Sri Lanka?
The highest recorded value was 468,087 number in 2018.
What is the lowest elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Sri Lanka?
The lowest recorded value was 206,854 number in 1981.
How does Sri Lanka rank for elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes?
Sri Lanka ranks 26th out of 82 countries with data for 2018.
Is elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
Over the last ten years it is up 26.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Sri Lanka 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 Sri Lanka. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 18 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/elderly-illiterate-population-65-years-both-sexes-number/sri-lanka/

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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.