Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Eastern Asia
SDG: Eastern Asia: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 38.13 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
38.13 million
Change on year
down 3.9%
Rank
114th
of 203 groups
All-time high
200.18 million
in 1989
All-time low
38.13 million
in 2024
Years of data
36
1989–2024
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Eastern Asia, 1989–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Eastern Asia stood at 38.13 million. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of 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 SDG: Eastern Asia peaked at 200.18 million in 1989 and was at its lowest, 38.13 million, in 2024.
SDG: Eastern Asia ranks 114th of 203 groups on this measure, 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 SDG: Eastern Asia, 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% |
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 SDG: Eastern Asia
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 63.20 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.91 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 33.69 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.56 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 34.54 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 2.06 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.4947 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 21.53 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 119.59 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.7719 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Eastern Asia?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in SDG: Eastern Asia 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 SDG: Eastern Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 200.18 million in 1989.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in SDG: Eastern Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.13 million in 2024.
- How does SDG: Eastern Asia rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- SDG: Eastern Asia ranks 114th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in SDG: Eastern Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this SDG: Eastern 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