Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in India

India: Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes was 186.67 million number in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
186.67 million number
World rank
1st
of 83 countries
All-time high
206.72 million number
in 2006
All-time low
169.32 million number
in 1981
Years of data
6
1981–2018

Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in India, 1981–2018

050.0M100.0M150.0M200.0M1981199920181981: 169.3M number1991: 196.3M number2001: 192.0M number2006: 206.7M number2011: 195.7M number2018: 186.7M number

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

India recorded 186.67 million number for illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in 2018.

That represents a change of down 9.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in India peaked at 206.72 million number in 2006 and was at its lowest, 169.32 million number, in 1981.

That places India 1st out of 83 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top 10%.

Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in India, year by year

Annual values for Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes (number) in India, 1981 to 2018.
Year number Change
1981 169.32 million number —
1991 196.25 million number +15.9%
2001 191.98 million number -2.2%
2006 206.72 million number +7.7%
2011 195.68 million number -5.3%
2018 186.67 million number -4.6%

India compared with similar countries

  • India's 186.67 million number is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.31 million number, 142.7× the median. (26 countries reporting)
  • India's 186.67 million number is above the median for South Asia, which is 4.56 million number, 40.9× the median. (5 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 169.32 million number 169.32 million number 169.32 million number 1
1990s 196.25 million number 196.25 million number 196.25 million number 1
2000s 199.35 million number 191.98 million number 206.72 million number 2
2010s 191.17 million number 186.67 million number 195.68 million number 2

Countries ranked near India

  1. 2 Pakistan 39.83 million number compare
  2. 3 Nigeria 28.54 million number compare
  3. 4 Bangladesh 23.23 million number compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for India

All data for India →

Frequently asked questions

What is illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in India?
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in India was 186.67 million number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in India?
The highest recorded value was 206.72 million number in 2006.
What is the lowest illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in India?
The lowest recorded value was 169.32 million number in 1981.
How does India rank for illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes?
India ranks 1st out of 83 countries with data for 2018.
Is illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in India?
Over the last ten years it is down 9.7%. 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 Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in India. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 30 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/illiterate-population-25-64-years-both-sexes-number/india/

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About this data

Indicator
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
122 places, 2,239 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Total number of adults from age 25 to age 64 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life.