Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female in South Asia
South Asia: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female was 60.4% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female in South Asia, 1975–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female in South Asia is 60.4%, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 30.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female in South Asia peaked at 60.4% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 16.6%, in 1975.
South Asia ranks 27th of 38 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female in South Asia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 16.6% | — |
| 1976 | 16.6% | +0.1% |
| 1977 | 17.3% | +3.8% |
| 1978 | 17.9% | +3.8% |
| 1979 | 18.6% | +3.9% |
| 1980 | 19.3% | +3.8% |
| 1981 | 20.4% | +5.5% |
| 1982 | 20.8% | +2.0% |
| 1983 | 21.5% | +3.6% |
| 1984 | 22.3% | +3.5% |
| 1985 | 23.1% | +3.5% |
| 1986 | 23.9% | +3.5% |
| 1987 | 24.7% | +3.3% |
| 1988 | 25.5% | +3.3% |
| 1989 | 26.1% | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 26.8% | +2.4% |
| 1991 | 27.6% | +3.1% |
| 1992 | 28.2% | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 28.9% | +2.7% |
| 1994 | 29.6% | +2.4% |
| 1995 | 30.4% | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 31.2% | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 32.1% | +2.9% |
| 1998 | 37.4% | +16.7% |
| 1999 | 38.2% | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 39.1% | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 40.4% | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 40.9% | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 41.7% | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 42.7% | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 41.5% | -2.8% |
| 2006 | 42.7% | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 43.2% | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 45.1% | +4.4% |
| 2009 | 46.2% | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 50.0% | +8.3% |
| 2011 | 51.1% | +2.3% |
| 2012 | 51.8% | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 52.7% | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 53.8% | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 55.3% | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 57.2% | +3.3% |
| 2017 | 58.1% | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 59.3% | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 60.4% | +2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 17.4% | 16.6% | 18.6% | 5 |
| 1980s | 22.8% | 19.3% | 26.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 31.0% | 26.8% | 38.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 42.3% | 39.1% | 46.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.0% | 50.0% | 60.4% | 10 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
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 16.19 million number (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 33.83 million number (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 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 98.2% (2019)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female in South Asia?
- Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female in South Asia was 60.4% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 60.4% in 2019.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.6% in 1975.
- How does South Asia rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female?
- South Asia ranks 27th out of 38 groups with data for 2019.
- Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.9%. 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 Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the female population between age 25 and age 64 who can, with understanding, read and write a short, simple statement on their everyday life. Generally, ‘literacy’ also encompasses ‘numeracy’, the ability to make simple arithmetic calculations. This indicator is calculated by dividing the number of female literates aged 25-64 years by the corresponding age group population and multiplying the result by 100.