Illiterate population, 25-64 years, female in India

India: Illiterate population, 25-64 years, female was 121.13 million number in 2018. ▲ Rising

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

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

050.0M100.0M150.0M1981199920181981: 102.3M number1991: 120.4M number2001: 124.3M number2006: 135.5M number2011: 126.4M number2018: 121.1M number

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

In 2018, illiterate population, 25-64 years, female in India stood at 121.13 million number.

That represents a change of down 10.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, illiterate population, 25-64 years, female in India peaked at 135.49 million number in 2006 and was at its lowest, 102.30 million number, in 1981.

India ranks 1st of 83 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

Illiterate population, 25-64 years, female in India, year by year

Annual values for Illiterate population, 25-64 years, female (number) in India, 1981 to 2018.
Year number Change
1981 102.30 million number
1991 120.44 million number +17.7%
2001 124.33 million number +3.2%
2006 135.49 million number +9.0%
2011 126.37 million number -6.7%
2018 121.13 million number -4.1%

India compared with similar countries

  • India's 121.13 million number is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 896,482 number, 135.1× the median. (26 countries reporting)
  • India's 121.13 million number is above the median for South Asia, which is 3.36 million number, 36.0× the median. (5 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 102.30 million number 102.30 million number 102.30 million number 1
1990s 120.44 million number 120.44 million number 120.44 million number 1
2000s 129.91 million number 124.33 million number 135.49 million number 2
2010s 123.75 million number 121.13 million number 126.37 million number 2

Countries ranked near India

  1. 2 Pakistan 26.35 million number compare
  2. 3 Nigeria 17.67 million number compare
  3. 4 Bangladesh 12.75 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, female in India?
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, female in India was 121.13 million number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest illiterate population, 25-64 years, female recorded in India?
The highest recorded value was 135.49 million number in 2006.
What is the lowest illiterate population, 25-64 years, female recorded in India?
The lowest recorded value was 102.30 million number in 1981.
How does India rank for illiterate population, 25-64 years, female?
India ranks 1st out of 83 countries with data for 2018.
Is illiterate population, 25-64 years, female rising or falling in India?
Over the last ten years it is down 10.6%. 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, female (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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

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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.