Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in AIMS: East Asia
AIMS: East Asia: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 59.34 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
59.34 million
Change on year
down 3.4%
Rank
100th
of 203 groups
All-time high
243.76 million
in 1989
All-time low
59.34 million
in 2024
Years of data
36
1989–2024
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in AIMS: East Asia, 1989–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
AIMS: East Asia recorded 59.34 million for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of down 3.4% on the previous year and down 28.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in AIMS: East Asia peaked at 243.76 million in 1989 and was at its lowest, 59.34 million, in 2024.
That places AIMS: East Asia 100th out of 203 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in AIMS: East Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 243.76 million | — |
| 1990 | 236.38 million | -3.0% |
| 1991 | 233.65 million | -1.2% |
| 1992 | 230.81 million | -1.2% |
| 1993 | 228.21 million | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 224.14 million | -1.8% |
| 1995 | 219.99 million | -1.8% |
| 1996 | 216.82 million | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 149.21 million | -31.2% |
| 1998 | 146.65 million | -1.7% |
| 1999 | 144.14 million | -1.7% |
| 2000 | 140.94 million | -2.2% |
| 2001 | 138.44 million | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 135.37 million | -2.2% |
| 2003 | 131.97 million | -2.5% |
| 2004 | 128.79 million | -2.4% |
| 2005 | 125.40 million | -2.6% |
| 2006 | 121.77 million | -2.9% |
| 2007 | 104.35 million | -14.3% |
| 2008 | 100.42 million | -3.8% |
| 2009 | 96.90 million | -3.5% |
| 2010 | 98.15 million | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 95.27 million | -2.9% |
| 2012 | 91.87 million | -3.6% |
| 2013 | 91.37 million | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 83.49 million | -8.6% |
| 2015 | 80.24 million | -3.9% |
| 2016 | 77.16 million | -3.8% |
| 2017 | 74.21 million | -3.8% |
| 2018 | 73.88 million | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 71.63 million | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 68.02 million | -5.0% |
| 2021 | 65.84 million | -3.2% |
| 2022 | 63.50 million | -3.6% |
| 2023 | 61.41 million | -3.3% |
| 2024 | 59.34 million | -3.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 243.76 million | 243.76 million | 243.76 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 203.00 million | 144.14 million | 236.38 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 122.43 million | 96.90 million | 140.94 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 83.73 million | 71.63 million | 98.15 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 63.62 million | 59.34 million | 68.02 million | 5 |
More education data for AIMS: East Asia
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 1.77 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 80.65 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.02 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 88.90 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.57 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 60.25 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual -7.88 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 90.80 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 2.12 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.44 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in AIMS: East Asia?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in AIMS: East Asia was 59.34 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in AIMS: East Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 243.76 million in 1989.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in AIMS: East Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 59.34 million in 2024.
- How does AIMS: East Asia rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- AIMS: East Asia ranks 100th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in AIMS: East Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this AIMS: East Asia 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