Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: East Asia & Pacific
WB: East Asia & Pacific: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 65.48 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: East Asia & Pacific, 1989–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: East Asia & Pacific is 65.48 million, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of down 3.0% on the previous year and down 26.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: East Asia & Pacific peaked at 247.96 million in 1989 and was at its lowest, 65.48 million, in 2024.
WB: East Asia & Pacific ranks 92nd 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 WB: East Asia & Pacific, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 247.96 million | — |
| 1990 | 240.55 million | -3.0% |
| 1991 | 237.84 million | -1.1% |
| 1992 | 235.01 million | -1.2% |
| 1993 | 232.42 million | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 228.37 million | -1.7% |
| 1995 | 224.25 million | -1.8% |
| 1996 | 221.05 million | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 153.43 million | -30.6% |
| 1998 | 150.85 million | -1.7% |
| 1999 | 148.34 million | -1.7% |
| 2000 | 145.14 million | -2.2% |
| 2001 | 142.65 million | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 139.61 million | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 136.25 million | -2.4% |
| 2004 | 133.09 million | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 129.74 million | -2.5% |
| 2006 | 126.16 million | -2.8% |
| 2007 | 108.78 million | -13.8% |
| 2008 | 104.90 million | -3.6% |
| 2009 | 101.43 million | -3.3% |
| 2010 | 102.72 million | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 99.91 million | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 96.59 million | -3.3% |
| 2013 | 96.18 million | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 88.43 million | -8.1% |
| 2015 | 85.42 million | -3.4% |
| 2016 | 82.45 million | -3.5% |
| 2017 | 79.61 million | -3.4% |
| 2018 | 79.39 million | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 77.27 million | -2.7% |
| 2020 | 73.77 million | -4.5% |
| 2021 | 71.66 million | -2.9% |
| 2022 | 69.42 million | -3.1% |
| 2023 | 67.48 million | -2.8% |
| 2024 | 65.48 million | -3.0% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: East Asia & 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 | -30.6% | 221.05 million | 153.43 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 247.96 million | 247.96 million | 247.96 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 207.21 million | 148.34 million | 240.55 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 126.78 million | 101.43 million | 145.14 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 88.80 million | 77.27 million | 102.72 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 69.56 million | 65.48 million | 73.77 million | 5 |
More education data for WB: East Asia & Pacific
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.4 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 82.79 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 91.26 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 61.72 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 2.09 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 45.77 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 8.16 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 93.00 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: East Asia & Pacific?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in WB: East Asia & Pacific was 65.48 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in WB: East Asia & Pacific?
- The highest recorded value was 247.96 million in 1989.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in WB: East Asia & Pacific?
- The lowest recorded value was 65.48 million in 2024.
- How does WB: East Asia & Pacific rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- WB: East Asia & Pacific ranks 92nd out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in WB: East Asia & Pacific?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this WB: East Asia & 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