Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male in South Asia
South Asia: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male was 79.1% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male in South Asia, 1975–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male in South Asia is 79.1%, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.7% on the previous year and up 8.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male in South Asia peaked at 79.1% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 45.4%, in 1975.
That places South Asia 27th out of 38 groups with data for 2019, putting it 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, male in South Asia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 45.4% | — |
| 1976 | 45.4% | +0.1% |
| 1977 | 46.2% | +1.6% |
| 1978 | 46.9% | +1.7% |
| 1979 | 47.7% | +1.6% |
| 1980 | 48.5% | +1.7% |
| 1981 | 49.5% | +2.1% |
| 1982 | 50.1% | +1.2% |
| 1983 | 50.9% | +1.6% |
| 1984 | 51.7% | +1.6% |
| 1985 | 52.4% | +1.5% |
| 1986 | 53.1% | +1.4% |
| 1987 | 53.7% | +1.1% |
| 1988 | 54.1% | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 54.6% | +0.9% |
| 1990 | 55.1% | +0.9% |
| 1991 | 55.4% | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 56.6% | +2.3% |
| 1993 | 57.6% | +1.7% |
| 1994 | 58.3% | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 58.9% | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 59.6% | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 60.3% | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 65.6% | +8.8% |
| 1999 | 66.1% | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 66.7% | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 67.2% | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 67.9% | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 68.9% | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 69.5% | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 69.4% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 69.9% | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 70.4% | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 72.0% | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 72.7% | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 73.1% | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 73.4% | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 74.1% | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 74.6% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 75.1% | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 76.2% | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 77.4% | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 77.9% | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 78.5% | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 79.1% | +0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 46.3% | 45.4% | 47.7% | 5 |
| 1980s | 51.9% | 48.5% | 54.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 59.3% | 55.1% | 66.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 69.5% | 66.7% | 72.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 75.9% | 73.1% | 79.1% | 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, male in South Asia?
- Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male in South Asia was 79.1% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 79.1% in 2019.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.4% in 1975.
- How does South Asia rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male?
- South Asia ranks 27th out of 38 groups with data for 2019.
- Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.8%. 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 Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the male 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 male literates aged 25-64 years by the corresponding age group population and multiplying the result by 100.