Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420)
ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420): Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 348.60 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420), 1999–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420) stood at 348.60 million. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.2% on the previous year and down 9.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420) peaked at 403.42 million in 2006 and was at its lowest, 348.60 million, in 2024.
ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420) ranks 20th of 203 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 383.47 million | — |
| 2000 | 379.15 million | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 384.60 million | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 385.71 million | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 385.22 million | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 386.04 million | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 395.62 million | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 403.42 million | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 403.20 million | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 399.96 million | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 397.82 million | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 376.92 million | -5.3% |
| 2011 | 384.16 million | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 390.26 million | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 385.48 million | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 383.68 million | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 374.48 million | -2.4% |
| 2016 | 364.79 million | -2.6% |
| 2017 | 363.88 million | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 363.09 million | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 371.31 million | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 367.88 million | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 362.92 million | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 357.05 million | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 352.82 million | -1.2% |
| 2024 | 348.60 million | -1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 383.47 million | 383.47 million | 383.47 million | 1 |
| 2000s | 392.07 million | 379.15 million | 403.42 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 375.80 million | 363.09 million | 390.26 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 357.86 million | 348.60 million | 367.88 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420)
More education data for ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -0.5261 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 100.71 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.1925 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 93.84 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 2.69 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.01 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 108.65 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 3.99 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 4.46 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate -1.19 % change on previous year (2024)
All data for ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420)?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420) was 348.60 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420)?
- The highest recorded value was 403.42 million in 2006.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420)?
- The lowest recorded value was 348.60 million in 2024.
- How does ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420) rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420) ranks 20th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420) 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