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

Malaysia: Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes was 551,610 number in 2018. ▼ Falling

Latest (2018)
551,610 number
Change on year
up 4.4%
World rank
43rd
of 83 countries
All-time high
1.79 million number
in 1980
All-time low
528,530 number
in 2017
Years of data
7
1980–2018

Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Malaysia, 1980–2018

500.0k1.0M1.5M2.0M1980199920181980: 1.8M number1991: 1.4M number2000: 1.1M number2010: 717.9k number2016: 569.7k number2017: 528.5k number2018: 551.6k number

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

The most recent figure for illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Malaysia is 551,610 number, measured in 2018.

The figure is up 4.4% on the previous year and down 23.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Malaysia peaked at 1.79 million number in 1980 and was at its lowest, 528,530 number, in 2017.

That places Malaysia 43rd out of 83 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 1.79 million number 1.79 million number 1.79 million number 1
1990s 1.37 million number 1.37 million number 1.37 million number 1
2000s 1.12 million number 1.12 million number 1.12 million number 1
2010s 591,937 number 528,530 number 717,905 number 4

Countries ranked near Malaysia

  1. 40 Peru 802,248 number compare
  2. 41 Philippines 800,856 number compare
  3. 42 Saudi Arabia 723,974 number compare
  4. 44 Honduras 524,909 number compare
  5. 45 Laos 464,121 number compare
  6. 46 Ecuador 437,732 number compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Malaysia

All data for Malaysia →

Frequently asked questions

What is illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Malaysia?
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in Malaysia was 551,610 number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Malaysia?
The highest recorded value was 1.79 million number in 1980.
What is the lowest illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Malaysia?
The lowest recorded value was 528,530 number in 2017.
How does Malaysia rank for illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes?
Malaysia ranks 43rd out of 83 countries with data for 2018.
Is illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Malaysia?
Over the last ten years it is down 23.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Malaysia 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

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.