Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)
East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries): Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 67.42 million number in 2019. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries), 1976–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) is 67.42 million number, measured in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 44 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.8% on the previous year and down 20.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 286.97 million number in 1980 and was at its lowest, 67.42 million number, in 2019.
East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 24th of 39 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 44 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 279.49 million number | — |
| 1977 | 285.84 million number | +2.3% |
| 1978 | 284.74 million number | -0.4% |
| 1979 | 283.58 million number | -0.4% |
| 1980 | 286.97 million number | +1.2% |
| 1981 | 281.12 million number | -2.0% |
| 1982 | 281.69 million number | +0.2% |
| 1983 | 277.98 million number | -1.3% |
| 1984 | 276.08 million number | -0.7% |
| 1985 | 274.22 million number | -0.7% |
| 1986 | 272.51 million number | -0.6% |
| 1987 | 266.66 million number | -2.1% |
| 1988 | 226.11 million number | -15.2% |
| 1989 | 223.74 million number | -1.0% |
| 1990 | 230.22 million number | +2.9% |
| 1991 | 218.63 million number | -5.0% |
| 1992 | 216.02 million number | -1.2% |
| 1993 | 213.80 million number | -1.0% |
| 1994 | 210.22 million number | -1.7% |
| 1995 | 206.16 million number | -1.9% |
| 1996 | 203.68 million number | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 134.38 million number | -34.0% |
| 1998 | 131.46 million number | -2.2% |
| 1999 | 129.14 million number | -1.8% |
| 2000 | 127.39 million number | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 123.23 million number | -3.3% |
| 2002 | 120.28 million number | -2.4% |
| 2003 | 117.41 million number | -2.4% |
| 2004 | 114.69 million number | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 111.17 million number | -3.1% |
| 2006 | 106.53 million number | -4.2% |
| 2007 | 91.55 million number | -14.1% |
| 2008 | 88.87 million number | -2.9% |
| 2009 | 84.78 million number | -4.6% |
| 2010 | 84.27 million number | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 87.65 million number | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 85.01 million number | -3.0% |
| 2013 | 84.20 million number | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 78.20 million number | -7.1% |
| 2015 | 75.39 million number | -3.6% |
| 2016 | 73.80 million number | -2.1% |
| 2017 | 71.32 million number | -3.4% |
| 2018 | 69.37 million number | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 67.42 million number | -2.8% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD 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 | -34.0% | 203.68 million number | 134.38 million number |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 283.41 million number | 279.49 million number | 285.84 million number | 4 |
| 1980s | 266.71 million number | 223.74 million number | 286.97 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 189.37 million number | 129.14 million number | 230.22 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 108.59 million number | 84.78 million number | 127.39 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 77.66 million number | 67.42 million number | 87.65 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)
More education data for East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 159.24 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 177.79 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.5719 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0841 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 18.2% (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 69.1% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 10.06 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) was 67.42 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 286.97 million number in 1980.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was 67.42 million number in 2019.
- How does East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 24th out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD 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.
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About this data
Total number of adults over age 15 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life.