Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ESCAP: North and Central Asia (nca) (unsdcode:98417)
ESCAP: North and Central Asia (nca) (unsdcode:98417): Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 185,316 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ESCAP: North and Central Asia (nca) (unsdcode:98417), 1999–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ESCAP: North and Central Asia (nca) (unsdcode:98417) stood at 185,316.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 59.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ESCAP: North and Central Asia (nca) (unsdcode:98417) peaked at 1.20 million in 1999 and was at its lowest, 184,071, in 2021.
That places ESCAP: North and Central Asia (nca) (unsdcode:98417) 195th out of 203 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
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: North and Central Asia (nca) (unsdcode:98417), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 1.20 million | — |
| 2000 | 1.14 million | -4.9% |
| 2001 | 1.10 million | -3.9% |
| 2002 | 1.06 million | -3.9% |
| 2003 | 1.01 million | -4.1% |
| 2004 | 972,708 | -4.0% |
| 2005 | 916,341 | -5.8% |
| 2006 | 881,462 | -3.8% |
| 2007 | 844,373 | -4.2% |
| 2008 | 666,677 | -21.0% |
| 2009 | 515,561 | -22.7% |
| 2010 | 492,118 | -4.5% |
| 2011 | 484,998 | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 473,844 | -2.3% |
| 2013 | 461,969 | -2.5% |
| 2014 | 455,023 | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 450,650 | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 442,021 | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 433,790 | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 189,141 | -56.4% |
| 2019 | 189,175 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 186,137 | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 184,071 | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 187,429 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 187,652 | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 185,316 | -1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.20 million | 1.20 million | 1.20 million | 1 |
| 2000s | 911,189 | 515,561 | 1.14 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 407,273 | 189,141 | 492,118 | 10 |
| 2020s | 186,121 | 184,071 | 187,652 | 5 |
More education data for ESCAP: North and Central Asia (nca) (unsdcode:98417)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 7.33 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 1.6 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 742,097 (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.26 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 22.35 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.7388 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 7.80 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.7525 % change on previous year (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 26,983 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 5.20 million (2024)
All data for ESCAP: North and Central Asia (nca) (unsdcode:98417) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ESCAP: North and Central Asia (nca) (unsdcode:98417)?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ESCAP: North and Central Asia (nca) (unsdcode:98417) was 185,316 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in ESCAP: North and Central Asia (nca) (unsdcode:98417)?
- The highest recorded value was 1.20 million in 1999.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in ESCAP: North and Central Asia (nca) (unsdcode:98417)?
- The lowest recorded value was 184,071 in 2021.
- How does ESCAP: North and Central Asia (nca) (unsdcode:98417) rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- ESCAP: North and Central Asia (nca) (unsdcode:98417) ranks 195th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in ESCAP: North and Central Asia (nca) (unsdcode:98417)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 59.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this ESCAP: North and Central Asia (nca) (unsdcode:98417) 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