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.

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

Name: Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in India
Creator: UNESCO Institute for Statistics
License: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)

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

1981–2018

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

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%.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	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

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

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for India

Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Crop Residues 22,533 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Manure Management 39,545 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 600,661 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Manure Management 1,412 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Burning - Crop residues 2.71 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 19.71 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Burning - Crop re 2,932 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Enteric Fermentat 457,538 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - IPCC Agriculture 21,452 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 85.03 (2050)

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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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: 07 August 2026

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.