Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ESCAP: East and North-east Asia (enea) (unsdcode:98408)
ESCAP: East and North-east Asia (enea) (unsdcode:98408): Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 38.13 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ESCAP: East and North-east Asia (enea) (unsdcode:98408), 1989–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ESCAP: East and North-east Asia (enea) (unsdcode:98408) is 38.13 million, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is down 3.9% on the previous year and down 32.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ESCAP: East and North-east Asia (enea) (unsdcode:98408) peaked at 200.18 million in 1989 and was at its lowest, 38.13 million, in 2024.
That places ESCAP: East and North-east Asia (enea) (unsdcode:98408) 114th out of 203 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ESCAP: East and North-east Asia (enea) (unsdcode:98408), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 200.18 million | — |
| 1990 | 194.19 million | -3.0% |
| 1991 | 191.65 million | -1.3% |
| 1992 | 189.02 million | -1.4% |
| 1993 | 186.40 million | -1.4% |
| 1994 | 183.44 million | -1.6% |
| 1995 | 180.43 million | -1.6% |
| 1996 | 177.70 million | -1.5% |
| 1997 | 110.52 million | -37.8% |
| 1998 | 108.34 million | -2.0% |
| 1999 | 105.70 million | -2.4% |
| 2000 | 103.39 million | -2.2% |
| 2001 | 101.33 million | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 98.79 million | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 95.93 million | -2.9% |
| 2004 | 93.14 million | -2.9% |
| 2005 | 90.37 million | -3.0% |
| 2006 | 87.86 million | -2.8% |
| 2007 | 72.90 million | -17.0% |
| 2008 | 70.39 million | -3.4% |
| 2009 | 68.13 million | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 67.20 million | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 64.94 million | -3.4% |
| 2012 | 62.37 million | -4.0% |
| 2013 | 60.38 million | -3.2% |
| 2014 | 56.50 million | -6.4% |
| 2015 | 54.14 million | -4.2% |
| 2016 | 51.97 million | -4.0% |
| 2017 | 49.63 million | -4.5% |
| 2018 | 47.83 million | -3.6% |
| 2019 | 46.18 million | -3.5% |
| 2020 | 44.46 million | -3.7% |
| 2021 | 42.88 million | -3.6% |
| 2022 | 41.25 million | -3.8% |
| 2023 | 39.69 million | -3.8% |
| 2024 | 38.13 million | -3.9% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ESCAP: East and North-east Asia (enea) (unsdcode:98408) changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | -37.8% | 177.70 million | 110.52 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 200.18 million | 200.18 million | 200.18 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 162.74 million | 105.70 million | 194.19 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 88.22 million | 68.13 million | 103.39 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 56.11 million | 46.18 million | 67.20 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 41.28 million | 38.13 million | 44.46 million | 5 |
More education data for ESCAP: East and North-east Asia (enea) (unsdcode:98408)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 109.86 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.52 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 58.39 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.59 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 51.47 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.1647 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.46 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.7719 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 56.39 million (2024)
All data for ESCAP: East and North-east Asia (enea) (unsdcode:98408) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ESCAP: East and North-east Asia (enea) (unsdcode:98408)?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ESCAP: East and North-east Asia (enea) (unsdcode:98408) was 38.13 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in ESCAP: East and North-east Asia (enea) (unsdcode:98408)?
- The highest recorded value was 200.18 million in 1989.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in ESCAP: East and North-east Asia (enea) (unsdcode:98408)?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.13 million in 2024.
- How does ESCAP: East and North-east Asia (enea) (unsdcode:98408) rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- ESCAP: East and North-east Asia (enea) (unsdcode:98408) ranks 114th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in ESCAP: East and North-east Asia (enea) (unsdcode:98408)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this ESCAP: East and North-east Asia (enea) (unsdcode:98408) 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release