Global figures that reveal the magnitude of the problem of illiteracy in the world disguise great disparities. For example, most of the illiteracy in the world is in developing countries. Therefore, it is preferable, and more appropriate in terms of numerical importance, to concentrate the analysis of illiteracy on developing countries. Such analyses show that there are differences between groups of developing countries. For example, East Asian and South Asian developing countries had 70 percent of the world's population of illiterates in 1990. The countries of East Asia will show a drop in the number of illiterates and in the rate of illiteracy by the year 2000; the countries of South Asia will also show a drop, but will still have a higher illiteracy rate than in all other regions. The figures presented in summary form for these different regions obviously disguise significant differences between the countries of which they are composed. In 48 of the 102 developing countries considered, the illiteracy rate exceeds 40 percent. There are also large differences in the illiteracy rate in different areas of developing countries, between rural and urban populations, among age groups, and between the sexes. In many of these countries, no reliable census data are available. Data collection and analysis must be improved so that adequate literacy policy can be made and better literacy programs can be carried out. (KC)