Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, % female in South Asia
South Asia: Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, % female was 64.9% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, % female in South Asia, 1975–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, % female in South Asia is 64.9%, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and up 2.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, % female in South Asia peaked at 64.9% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 56.6%, in 1975.
South Asia ranks 20th of 37 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, % female in South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 56.6% | — |
| 1976 | 56.6% | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 56.6% | +0.1% |
| 1978 | 56.7% | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 56.8% | +0.2% |
| 1980 | 56.9% | +0.2% |
| 1981 | 57.0% | +0.1% |
| 1982 | 57.0% | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 57.0% | +0.1% |
| 1984 | 57.1% | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 57.3% | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 57.3% | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 57.5% | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 58.2% | +1.3% |
| 1989 | 58.5% | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 58.7% | +0.4% |
| 1991 | 58.7% | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 58.8% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 58.8% | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 58.9% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 59.0% | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 59.1% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 59.4% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 61.4% | +3.3% |
| 1999 | 61.7% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 62.0% | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 62.1% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 62.4% | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 62.6% | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 62.7% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 62.7% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 63.0% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 63.3% | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 63.2% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 63.2% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 63.3% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 63.3% | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 63.6% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 63.6% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 63.6% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 63.9% | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 64.4% | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 64.4% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 64.6% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 64.9% | +0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 56.7% | 56.6% | 56.8% | 5 |
| 1980s | 57.4% | 56.9% | 58.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 59.4% | 58.7% | 61.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 62.7% | 62.0% | 63.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 64.0% | 63.3% | 64.9% | 10 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 17 Malawi 77.0% compare
- 18 Uganda 76.6% compare
- 19 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 75.4% compare
- 20 Lao People's Democratic Republic 74.2% compare
- 21 Spain 74.1% compare
- 22 Portugal 74.0% compare
- 23 Mozambique 73.6% compare
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 age 16.19 million number (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry age 33.83 million number (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry age 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 progr 98.2% (2019)
Frequently asked questions
- What is elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, % female in South Asia?
- Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, % female in South Asia was 64.9% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, % female recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 64.9% in 2019.
- What is the lowest elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, % female recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.6% in 1975.
- How does South Asia rank for elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, % female?
- South Asia ranks 20th out of 37 groups with data for 2019.
- Is elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, % female rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.7%. 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, % female. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the elderly illiterate population that is female.