What does "ignorant" mean in your country--or part of it?

Both meanings are correct usage. I don't think it is a regional thing at all.

Depends on how it is used.

It could be quite derogatory in the sense that you might say someone is ignorant meaning they are totally clueless and stupid about the world around them or some crucial part of it and doesn't care that they are clueless.

It could be a simple statement of fact in the sense that you might say someone is ignorant of the facts in a given matter but they are otherwise aware and decent person and not just a total numpty.

If I were to refer to an individual's statements as being ignorant, that could very well mean rude or otherwise uncalled for.

Without knowledge.
I've never known of it meaning rude.

 
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Ignorant = uneducated.

Ignorant with attitude = willfully stupid.

It can mean either of those things depending on context--at least around here.    I have always heard (and even read) it used both ways.

And after reading this thread it appears that yes, it is regional after all.  



ETA:  Found this that explains how it can be used as an insult, but it still doesn't really indicate how it came to be used to mean "rude".

"The Polite and Not-So-Polite Uses of ignorant

Ignorant shares a root with the word ignore, one of those etymological connections which appear obvious once they are pointed out, yet remained overlooked by most. Both words come from the Latin ignorare (“to ignore, be ignorant of”). There are several meanings of ignorant, all of which are concerned with a lack of knowledge in some sense; some of these are more insulting than others, and care should be exercised before applying this word to people who you do not wish to offend. Saying “They were ignorant of most of the laws of physics” means that the people in question did not have a specific body of learning. Saying “You are an ignorant person” is possibly describing someone as primitive, crude, or uncivilized."

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To me, it is reminiscent of the word "hysterical".    People sometimes use that word in place of "hilarious", not because they think "hysterical" is a synonym of "hilarious", but because of changes in spoken casual language.   But I wouldn't assume that they were ignorant of the true definition of the word "hysterical".  

A common phrase "He/she was laughing hysterically" means that you were laughing to a point that it was unmanageable or uncontrolled, and I am sure that's how the word "hysterical" slowly became a casual (or slang) way of saying something was very funny.

I think the difference is always in how wide spread the usage of the term is.  I'm guessing the secondary meaning of "ignorant" is less common than the secondary usage of "hysterical", because when I checked the dictionary for "hysterical" to see if they mention the secondary meaning for that word, they do indeed list it as an informal meaning.  However, they did not mention the secondary meaning for "ignorant".  
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This. 

I don't see it as an insult, necessarily. It means you do not know something. But it is often seen as an insult because it can be taken to mean stupid.

I've never know it to mean rude. That meaning doesn't make sense to me. 

Ignorant to me means someone who isn't educated about something. In this case it's being used simply as a fact, not a put down. I'm ignorant regarding wines because I haven't studied them. 

It can also be used as a put down depending on the tone used when you say someone is "completely ignorant" meaning he is stupid and hasn't got a clue about anything. 

ignorant means unaware/uneducated - it isn't an insult per se but most people consider it to be one. I think when one uses it about a person directly (he's ignorant, he's an ignorant arse...) then it's intended to be insulting. When modified - he's ignorant of the facts in this situation or he's ignorant about Islam - then it's more a statement of fact than a judgement.

That said, if you are ignorant about something and it's been pointed out to you or you are aware of it and you chose to continue to stay ignorant....especially if you're a public figure talking about the something in question, then...it's hardly surprising if people chose to use the word as an insult about you

Well it is sort of rude to call someone ignorant ( I've done it and was called out on it here )

But it means that someone is lacking in knowledge of a certain subject- but today it sort of means willfully lacking in knowledge on a specific subject. I don't know if it's because of the availability of information that has changed the meaning or not.

If someone lacks certain knowledge but not willfully so they are more likely to be called sheltered or naive.

People frequently call racists ignorant and that is wrong. Racists know people are all people but they just refuse to acknowledge it.

I've always taken it to mean "you don't know any better" and arrogant is you know better

Ignorant -- unaware/uneducated about a topic. Not an insult, just an observation of a lack of knowledge about some particular topic.

I think people start getting insulted about the word because the only time you really use ignorant is when someone is spouting off about a topic like they know what they are talking but really don't. So, people get butt hurt for their lack of knowledge being pointed out and equate that with an insult. It's not an insult. But, it does shine a light on a shortcoming. Egos don't like that.