Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in AIMS: Asia and the Pacific
AIMS: Asia and the Pacific: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 412.56 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
412.56 million
Change on year
down 1.5%
Rank
15th
of 203 groups
All-time high
683.79 million
in 1991
All-time low
412.56 million
in 2024
Years of data
34
1991–2024
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in AIMS: Asia and the Pacific, 1991–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in AIMS: Asia and the Pacific stood at 412.56 million. That is the lowest value across all 34 years on record.
The figure is down 1.5% on the previous year and down 12.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in AIMS: Asia and the Pacific peaked at 683.79 million in 1991 and was at its lowest, 412.56 million, in 2024.
AIMS: Asia and the Pacific ranks 15th of 203 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in AIMS: Asia and the Pacific, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 683.79 million | — |
| 1992 | 675.64 million | -1.2% |
| 1993 | 667.60 million | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 659.70 million | -1.2% |
| 1995 | 650.97 million | -1.3% |
| 1996 | 643.64 million | -1.1% |
| 1997 | 572.04 million | -11.1% |
| 1998 | 531.75 million | -7.0% |
| 1999 | 525.21 million | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 518.12 million | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 521.14 million | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 519.26 million | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 515.45 million | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 513.13 million | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 519.65 million | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 523.63 million | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 506.17 million | -3.3% |
| 2008 | 499.11 million | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 494.48 million | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 475.76 million | -3.8% |
| 2011 | 480.92 million | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 484.10 million | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 479.06 million | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 469.59 million | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 457.49 million | -2.6% |
| 2016 | 445.00 million | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 441.33 million | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 440.41 million | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 446.73 million | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 439.85 million | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 432.84 million | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 424.77 million | -1.9% |
| 2023 | 418.70 million | -1.4% |
| 2024 | 412.56 million | -1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 623.37 million | 525.21 million | 683.79 million | 9 |
| 2000s | 513.01 million | 494.48 million | 523.63 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 462.04 million | 440.41 million | 484.10 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 425.74 million | 412.56 million | 439.85 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near AIMS: Asia and the Pacific
More education data for AIMS: Asia and the Pacific
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 366.63 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.6455 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 175.71 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 1.2 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 17.98 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.3932 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 2.65 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 2.31 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 191.31 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 190.92 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in AIMS: Asia and the Pacific?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in AIMS: Asia and the Pacific was 412.56 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in AIMS: Asia and the Pacific?
- The highest recorded value was 683.79 million in 1991.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in AIMS: Asia and the Pacific?
- The lowest recorded value was 412.56 million in 2024.
- How does AIMS: Asia and the Pacific rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- AIMS: Asia and the Pacific ranks 15th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in AIMS: Asia and the Pacific?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this AIMS: Asia and the Pacific data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release