Illiterate population, 25-64 years, female in IBRD only

IBRD only: Illiterate population, 25-64 years, female was 169.59 million number in 2019. ▼ Falling

Latest (2019)
169.59 million number
Change on year
down 2.4%
Rank
7th
of 39 groups
All-time high
285.90 million number
in 1987
All-time low
169.59 million number
in 2019
Years of data
45
1975–2019

Illiterate population, 25-64 years, female in IBRD only, 1975–2019

0100.0M200.0M300.0M1975199720191975: 256.8M number1976: 262.7M number1977: 268.6M number1978: 271.5M number1979: 274.3M number1980: 278.8M number1981: 278.9M number1982: 276.3M number1983: 282.2M number1984: 282.5M number1985: 283.8M number1986: 284.7M number1987: 285.9M number1988: 267.0M number1989: 267.0M number1990: 266.8M number1991: 266.6M number1992: 266.4M number1993: 266.2M number1994: 265.7M number1995: 264.4M number1996: 263.4M number1997: 230.4M number1998: 218.1M number1999: 216.7M number2000: 211.1M number2001: 212.2M number2002: 210.9M number2003: 207.3M number2004: 205.1M number2005: 209.8M number2006: 210.1M number2007: 205.4M number2008: 203.4M number2009: 200.6M number2010: 190.0M number2011: 188.3M number2012: 187.3M number2013: 187.4M number2014: 182.8M number2015: 179.7M number2016: 178.4M number2017: 176.2M number2018: 173.8M number2019: 169.6M number

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

The most recent figure for illiterate population, 25-64 years, female in IBRD only is 169.59 million number, measured in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 45 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.4% on the previous year and down 15.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, illiterate population, 25-64 years, female in IBRD only peaked at 285.90 million number in 1987 and was at its lowest, 169.59 million number, in 2019.

IBRD only ranks 7th of 39 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 45 years of available data.

Illiterate population, 25-64 years, female in IBRD only, year by year

Annual values for Illiterate population, 25-64 years, female (number) in IBRD only, 1975 to 2019.
Year number Change
1975 256.79 million number
1976 262.70 million number +2.3%
1977 268.60 million number +2.2%
1978 271.50 million number +1.1%
1979 274.33 million number +1.0%
1980 278.76 million number +1.6%
1981 278.89 million number +0.0%
1982 276.33 million number -0.9%
1983 282.20 million number +2.1%
1984 282.54 million number +0.1%
1985 283.80 million number +0.4%
1986 284.70 million number +0.3%
1987 285.90 million number +0.4%
1988 266.97 million number -6.6%
1989 266.98 million number +0.0%
1990 266.82 million number -0.1%
1991 266.55 million number -0.1%
1992 266.42 million number -0.0%
1993 266.22 million number -0.1%
1994 265.74 million number -0.2%
1995 264.43 million number -0.5%
1996 263.42 million number -0.4%
1997 230.36 million number -12.6%
1998 218.15 million number -5.3%
1999 216.71 million number -0.7%
2000 211.08 million number -2.6%
2001 212.16 million number +0.5%
2002 210.94 million number -0.6%
2003 207.32 million number -1.7%
2004 205.08 million number -1.1%
2005 209.79 million number +2.3%
2006 210.06 million number +0.1%
2007 205.41 million number -2.2%
2008 203.37 million number -1.0%
2009 200.62 million number -1.4%
2010 189.97 million number -5.3%
2011 188.34 million number -0.9%
2012 187.29 million number -0.6%
2013 187.41 million number +0.1%
2014 182.76 million number -2.5%
2015 179.73 million number -1.7%
2016 178.44 million number -0.7%
2017 176.19 million number -1.3%
2018 173.77 million number -1.4%
2019 169.59 million number -2.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 266.78 million number 256.79 million number 274.33 million number 5
1980s 278.71 million number 266.97 million number 285.90 million number 10
1990s 252.48 million number 216.71 million number 266.82 million number 10
2000s 207.58 million number 200.62 million number 212.16 million number 10
2010s 181.35 million number 169.59 million number 189.97 million number 10

Countries ranked near IBRD only

  1. 4 Bangladesh 12.75 million number compare
  2. 5 China 9.52 million number compare
  3. 6 Egypt 8.29 million number compare
  4. 7 Iran 3.79 million number compare
  5. 8 Morocco 3.57 million number compare
  6. 9 Nepal 3.36 million number compare
  7. 10 Indonesia 2.93 million number compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for IBRD only

All data for IBRD only →

Frequently asked questions

What is illiterate population, 25-64 years, female in IBRD only?
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, female in IBRD only was 169.59 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest illiterate population, 25-64 years, female recorded in IBRD only?
The highest recorded value was 285.90 million number in 1987.
What is the lowest illiterate population, 25-64 years, female recorded in IBRD only?
The lowest recorded value was 169.59 million number in 2019.
How does IBRD only rank for illiterate population, 25-64 years, female?
IBRD only ranks 7th out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
Is illiterate population, 25-64 years, female rising or falling in IBRD only?
Over the last ten years it is down 15.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this IBRD only data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Illiterate population, 25-64 years, female (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Illiterate population, 25-64 years, female in IBRD only. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 24 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/illiterate-population-25-64-years-female-number/ibrd-only/

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About this data

Indicator
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, female (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
122 places, 2,240 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

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