Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: East Asia and Pacific
UNICEF: East Asia and Pacific: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 65.08 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: East Asia and Pacific, 1989–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: East Asia and Pacific is 65.08 million, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.0% on the previous year and down 25.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: East Asia and Pacific peaked at 246.85 million in 1989 and was at its lowest, 65.08 million, in 2024.
That places UNICEF: East Asia and Pacific 96th 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: East Asia and Pacific, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 246.85 million | — |
| 1990 | 239.46 million | -3.0% |
| 1991 | 236.77 million | -1.1% |
| 1992 | 233.96 million | -1.2% |
| 1993 | 231.39 million | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 227.37 million | -1.7% |
| 1995 | 223.28 million | -1.8% |
| 1996 | 220.10 million | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 152.53 million | -30.7% |
| 1998 | 149.97 million | -1.7% |
| 1999 | 147.49 million | -1.7% |
| 2000 | 144.31 million | -2.2% |
| 2001 | 141.83 million | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 138.81 million | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 135.50 million | -2.4% |
| 2004 | 132.36 million | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 129.04 million | -2.5% |
| 2006 | 125.46 million | -2.8% |
| 2007 | 108.12 million | -13.8% |
| 2008 | 104.26 million | -3.6% |
| 2009 | 100.80 million | -3.3% |
| 2010 | 102.03 million | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 99.23 million | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 95.93 million | -3.3% |
| 2013 | 95.51 million | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 87.87 million | -8.0% |
| 2015 | 84.88 million | -3.4% |
| 2016 | 81.93 million | -3.5% |
| 2017 | 79.10 million | -3.4% |
| 2018 | 78.90 million | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 76.79 million | -2.7% |
| 2020 | 73.31 million | -4.5% |
| 2021 | 71.22 million | -2.9% |
| 2022 | 69.00 million | -3.1% |
| 2023 | 67.09 million | -2.8% |
| 2024 | 65.08 million | -3.0% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: East Asia and Pacific 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 | -30.7% | 220.10 million | 152.53 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 246.85 million | 246.85 million | 246.85 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 206.23 million | 147.49 million | 239.46 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 126.05 million | 100.80 million | 144.31 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 88.22 million | 76.79 million | 102.03 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 69.14 million | 65.08 million | 73.31 million | 5 |
More education data for UNICEF: East Asia and Pacific
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 47.05 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 82.61 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.02 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 91.06 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 2.08 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 45.60 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.4 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 1.73 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 8.14 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: East Asia and Pacific?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: East Asia and Pacific was 65.08 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: East Asia and Pacific?
- The highest recorded value was 246.85 million in 1989.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: East Asia and Pacific?
- The lowest recorded value was 65.08 million in 2024.
- How does UNICEF: East Asia and Pacific rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- UNICEF: East Asia and Pacific ranks 96th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: East Asia and Pacific?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this UNICEF: East Asia and Pacific 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