Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: Association of South East Asian Nations (asean)
UNICEF: Association of South East Asian Nations (asean): Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 20.98 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: Association of South East Asian Nations (asean), 1989–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
UNICEF: Association of South East Asian Nations (asean) recorded 20.98 million for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.4% on the previous year and down 21.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: Association of South East Asian Nations (asean) peaked at 43.34 million in 1989 and was at its lowest, 20.98 million, in 2024.
That places UNICEF: Association of South East Asian Nations (asean) 145th 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 UNICEF: Association of South East Asian Nations (asean), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 43.34 million | — |
| 1990 | 41.94 million | -3.2% |
| 1991 | 41.76 million | -0.4% |
| 1992 | 41.54 million | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 41.55 million | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 40.44 million | -2.7% |
| 1995 | 39.30 million | -2.8% |
| 1996 | 38.83 million | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 38.41 million | -1.1% |
| 1998 | 38.02 million | -1.0% |
| 1999 | 38.14 million | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 37.34 million | -2.1% |
| 2001 | 36.87 million | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 36.33 million | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 35.80 million | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 35.42 million | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 34.82 million | -1.7% |
| 2006 | 33.71 million | -3.2% |
| 2007 | 31.24 million | -7.3% |
| 2008 | 29.81 million | -4.6% |
| 2009 | 28.55 million | -4.3% |
| 2010 | 30.73 million | +7.6% |
| 2011 | 30.11 million | -2.0% |
| 2012 | 29.28 million | -2.7% |
| 2013 | 30.77 million | +5.1% |
| 2014 | 26.77 million | -13.0% |
| 2015 | 25.88 million | -3.3% |
| 2016 | 24.96 million | -3.6% |
| 2017 | 24.34 million | -2.5% |
| 2018 | 25.80 million | +6.0% |
| 2019 | 25.22 million | -2.3% |
| 2020 | 23.32 million | -7.5% |
| 2021 | 22.72 million | -2.6% |
| 2022 | 22.01 million | -3.1% |
| 2023 | 21.49 million | -2.4% |
| 2024 | 20.98 million | -2.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 43.34 million | 43.34 million | 43.34 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 39.99 million | 38.02 million | 41.94 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 33.99 million | 28.55 million | 37.34 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.39 million | 24.34 million | 30.77 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.11 million | 20.98 million | 23.32 million | 5 |
More education data for UNICEF: Association of South East Asian Nations (asean)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 1.66 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 29.31 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.083 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 30.66 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.72 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 15.13 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 2.01 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 22.67 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 10.33 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.12 % change on previous year (2024)
All data for UNICEF: Association of South East Asian Nations (asean) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: Association of South East Asian Nations (asean)?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: Association of South East Asian Nations (asean) was 20.98 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: Association of South East Asian Nations (asean)?
- The highest recorded value was 43.34 million in 1989.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: Association of South East Asian Nations (asean)?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.98 million in 2024.
- How does UNICEF: Association of South East Asian Nations (asean) rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- UNICEF: Association of South East Asian Nations (asean) ranks 145th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: Association of South East Asian Nations (asean)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this UNICEF: Association of South East Asian Nations (asean) 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