Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: East Asia and the Pacific Programme Countries
UNICEF: East Asia and the Pacific Programme Countries: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 54.85 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: East Asia and the Pacific Programme Countries, 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 the Pacific Programme Countries is 54.85 million, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.2% on the previous year and down 27.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: East Asia and the Pacific Programme Countries peaked at 222.10 million in 1989 and was at its lowest, 54.85 million, in 2024.
UNICEF: East Asia and the Pacific Programme Countries ranks 104th of 203 groups on this measure, 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 the Pacific Programme Countries, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 222.10 million | — |
| 1990 | 215.09 million | -3.2% |
| 1991 | 212.80 million | -1.1% |
| 1992 | 210.36 million | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 208.13 million | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 204.74 million | -1.6% |
| 1995 | 201.28 million | -1.7% |
| 1996 | 198.55 million | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 131.92 million | -33.6% |
| 1998 | 129.71 million | -1.7% |
| 1999 | 127.96 million | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 125.15 million | -2.2% |
| 2001 | 122.76 million | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 120.27 million | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 117.74 million | -2.1% |
| 2004 | 115.31 million | -2.1% |
| 2005 | 112.63 million | -2.3% |
| 2006 | 109.47 million | -2.8% |
| 2007 | 93.00 million | -15.0% |
| 2008 | 89.59 million | -3.7% |
| 2009 | 86.35 million | -3.6% |
| 2010 | 86.59 million | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 84.07 million | -2.9% |
| 2012 | 81.36 million | -3.2% |
| 2013 | 81.01 million | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 75.19 million | -7.2% |
| 2015 | 72.53 million | -3.5% |
| 2016 | 69.86 million | -3.7% |
| 2017 | 67.29 million | -3.7% |
| 2018 | 67.41 million | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 65.51 million | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 62.31 million | -4.9% |
| 2021 | 60.45 million | -3.0% |
| 2022 | 58.43 million | -3.3% |
| 2023 | 56.65 million | -3.0% |
| 2024 | 54.85 million | -3.2% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: East Asia and the Pacific Programme Countries 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 | -33.6% | 198.55 million | 131.92 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 222.10 million | 222.10 million | 222.10 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 184.06 million | 127.96 million | 215.09 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 109.23 million | 86.35 million | 125.15 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 75.08 million | 65.51 million | 86.59 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 58.54 million | 54.85 million | 62.31 million | 5 |
More education data for UNICEF: East Asia and the Pacific Programme Countries
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.69 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 76.53 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.11 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 84.59 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 2.37 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 41.16 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.59 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 42.74 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 83.90 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 1.97 % change on previous year (2024)
All data for UNICEF: East Asia and the Pacific Programme Countries →
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: East Asia and the Pacific Programme Countries?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in UNICEF: East Asia and the Pacific Programme Countries was 54.85 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 the Pacific Programme Countries?
- The highest recorded value was 222.10 million in 1989.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: East Asia and the Pacific Programme Countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 54.85 million in 2024.
- How does UNICEF: East Asia and the Pacific Programme Countries rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- UNICEF: East Asia and the Pacific Programme Countries ranks 104th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: East Asia and the Pacific Programme Countries?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this UNICEF: East Asia and the Pacific Programme Countries 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release