Illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)

South Asia (IDA & IBRD): Illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female was 64.1% in 2019. ▲ Rising

Latest (2019)
64.1%
Change on year
down 0.1%
Rank
8th
of 38 groups
All-time high
65.0%
in 2009
All-time low
58.4%
in 1975
Years of data
45
1975–2019

Illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female in South Asia (IDA & IBRD), 1975–2019

02040601975199720191975: 58.41976: 58.51977: 58.71978: 58.81979: 591980: 59.11981: 59.31982: 59.51983: 59.61984: 59.81985: 59.91986: 60.11987: 60.11988: 60.11989: 60.21990: 60.31991: 60.11992: 60.71993: 611994: 61.11995: 61.31996: 61.41997: 61.51998: 631999: 63.12000: 63.22001: 632002: 63.42003: 63.72004: 63.92005: 64.22006: 64.22007: 64.32008: 64.92009: 652010: 63.72011: 63.42012: 63.72013: 63.72014: 63.72015: 63.92016: 64.22017: 64.22018: 64.22019: 64.1

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

The most recent figure for illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female in South Asia (IDA & IBRD) is 64.1%, measured in 2019.

The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 1.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female in South Asia (IDA & IBRD) peaked at 65.0% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 58.4%, in 1975.

South Asia (IDA & IBRD) ranks 8th of 38 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.

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

Illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female in South Asia (IDA & IBRD), year by year

Annual values for Illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female in South Asia (IDA & IBRD), 1975 to 2019.
Year Value Change
1975 58.4%
1976 58.5% +0.1%
1977 58.7% +0.3%
1978 58.8% +0.3%
1979 59.0% +0.3%
1980 59.1% +0.3%
1981 59.3% +0.3%
1982 59.5% +0.3%
1983 59.6% +0.3%
1984 59.8% +0.3%
1985 59.9% +0.2%
1986 60.1% +0.2%
1987 60.1% +0.1%
1988 60.1% -0.0%
1989 60.2% +0.1%
1990 60.3% +0.1%
1991 60.1% -0.2%
1992 60.7% +0.8%
1993 61.0% +0.5%
1994 61.1% +0.3%
1995 61.3% +0.2%
1996 61.4% +0.2%
1997 61.5% +0.1%
1998 63.0% +2.4%
1999 63.1% +0.1%
2000 63.2% +0.2%
2001 63.0% -0.2%
2002 63.4% +0.5%
2003 63.7% +0.6%
2004 63.9% +0.2%
2005 64.2% +0.6%
2006 64.2% -0.1%
2007 64.3% +0.3%
2008 64.9% +0.8%
2009 65.0% +0.1%
2010 63.7% -1.9%
2011 63.4% -0.5%
2012 63.7% +0.6%
2013 63.7% +0.0%
2014 63.7% -0.1%
2015 63.9% +0.4%
2016 64.2% +0.5%
2017 64.2% -0.0%
2018 64.2% -0.0%
2019 64.1% -0.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 58.7% 58.4% 59.0% 5
1980s 59.8% 59.1% 60.2% 10
1990s 61.3% 60.1% 63.1% 10
2000s 64.0% 63.0% 65.0% 10
2010s 63.9% 63.4% 64.2% 10

Countries ranked near South Asia (IDA & IBRD)

  1. 5 Sao Tome and Principe 73.9% compare
  2. 6 Nepal 73.6% compare
  3. 7 Peru 72.9% compare
  4. 8 Macau, China 72.3% compare
  5. 9 China 72.1% compare
  6. 10 Morocco 70.2% compare
  7. 11 Tunisia 70.1% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for South Asia (IDA & IBRD)

All data for South Asia (IDA & IBRD) →

Frequently asked questions

What is illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female in South Asia (IDA & IBRD) was 64.1% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female recorded in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
The highest recorded value was 65.0% in 2009.
What is the lowest illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female recorded in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
The lowest recorded value was 58.4% in 1975.
How does South Asia (IDA & IBRD) rank for illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female?
South Asia (IDA & IBRD) ranks 8th out of 38 groups with data for 2019.
Is illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female rising or falling in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
Over the last ten years it is down 1.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Asia (IDA & IBRD) data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female in South Asia (IDA & IBRD). Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 27 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/illiterate-population-25-64-years-percent-female/south-asia-ida-and-ibrd/

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About this data

Indicator
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female
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

Share of the adult illiterate population (age 25-64) that is female.