Illiterate population, 25-64 years, male in South Asia
South Asia: Illiterate population, 25-64 years, male was 93.91 million number in 2019. ▲ Rising
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, male in South Asia, 1975–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
South Asia recorded 93.91 million number for illiterate population, 25-64 years, male in 2019.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.7% on the previous year and down 4.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, illiterate population, 25-64 years, male in South Asia peaked at 106.59 million number in 1997 and was at its lowest, 83.09 million number, in 1975.
That places South Asia 7th out of 38 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 85.63 million number | 83.09 million number | 87.78 million number | 5 |
| 1980s | 93.19 million number | 88.84 million number | 98.93 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 101.94 million number | 94.72 million number | 106.59 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 98.49 million number | 96.41 million number | 101.68 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 97.95 million number | 93.91 million number | 100.75 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 4 Bangladesh 10.48 million number compare
- 5 Egypt 5.48 million number compare
- 6 China (People’s Republic of) 3.69 million number compare
- 7 Brazil 3.50 million number compare
- 8 Côte d’Ivoire 2.22 million number compare
- 9 Burkina Faso 1.75 million number compare
- 10 Iran 1.70 million number compare
More reference data data for South Asia
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 102.17 (2026)
- CPI Price, nominal 246.03 (2026)
- CPI Price, nominal, seas. adj. 247.05 (2026)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry age 16.19 million number (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry age 33.83 million number (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry age 17.64 million number (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, both sexes 5.02 years (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, male 5.06 years (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, female 4.98 years (2019)
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in general progr 98.2% (2019)
Frequently asked questions
- What is illiterate population, 25-64 years, male in South Asia?
- Illiterate population, 25-64 years, male in South Asia was 93.91 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest illiterate population, 25-64 years, male recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 106.59 million number in 1997.
- What is the lowest illiterate population, 25-64 years, male recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 83.09 million number in 1975.
- How does South Asia rank for illiterate population, 25-64 years, male?
- South Asia ranks 7th out of 38 groups with data for 2019.
- Is illiterate population, 25-64 years, male rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Asia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Illiterate population, 25-64 years, male (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Total number of males from age 25 to age 64 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life.