Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in SDG: Eastern Asia
SDG: Eastern Asia: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female was 28.10 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
28.10 million
Change on year
down 3.9%
Rank
113th
of 203 groups
All-time high
143.12 million
in 1989
All-time low
28.10 million
in 2024
Years of data
36
1989–2024
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in SDG: Eastern Asia, 1989–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
SDG: Eastern Asia recorded 28.10 million for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of down 3.9% on the previous year and down 32.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in SDG: Eastern Asia peaked at 143.12 million in 1989 and was at its lowest, 28.10 million, in 2024.
SDG: Eastern Asia ranks 113th of 203 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in SDG: Eastern Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 143.12 million | — |
| 1990 | 138.96 million | -2.9% |
| 1991 | 137.27 million | -1.2% |
| 1992 | 135.53 million | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 133.74 million | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 131.78 million | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 129.80 million | -1.5% |
| 1996 | 127.98 million | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 79.71 million | -37.7% |
| 1998 | 78.16 million | -1.9% |
| 1999 | 76.41 million | -2.2% |
| 2000 | 74.80 million | -2.1% |
| 2001 | 73.20 million | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 71.47 million | -2.4% |
| 2003 | 69.55 million | -2.7% |
| 2004 | 67.76 million | -2.6% |
| 2005 | 65.87 million | -2.8% |
| 2006 | 64.10 million | -2.7% |
| 2007 | 53.27 million | -16.9% |
| 2008 | 51.50 million | -3.3% |
| 2009 | 49.86 million | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 48.96 million | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 47.38 million | -3.2% |
| 2012 | 45.57 million | -3.8% |
| 2013 | 44.16 million | -3.1% |
| 2014 | 41.60 million | -5.8% |
| 2015 | 39.95 million | -4.0% |
| 2016 | 38.39 million | -3.9% |
| 2017 | 36.49 million | -5.0% |
| 2018 | 35.14 million | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 33.90 million | -3.5% |
| 2020 | 32.70 million | -3.5% |
| 2021 | 31.56 million | -3.5% |
| 2022 | 30.37 million | -3.8% |
| 2023 | 29.23 million | -3.7% |
| 2024 | 28.10 million | -3.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 143.12 million | 143.12 million | 143.12 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 116.93 million | 76.41 million | 138.96 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 64.14 million | 49.86 million | 74.80 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 41.15 million | 33.90 million | 48.96 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.39 million | 28.10 million | 32.70 million | 5 |
More education data for SDG: Eastern Asia
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.56 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 34.54 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 2.06 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.59 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 51.47 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.1647 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.46 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 56.39 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.7719 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in SDG: Eastern Asia?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in SDG: Eastern Asia was 28.10 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female recorded in SDG: Eastern Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 143.12 million in 1989.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female recorded in SDG: Eastern Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.10 million in 2024.
- How does SDG: Eastern Asia rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female?
- SDG: Eastern Asia ranks 113th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female rising or falling in SDG: Eastern Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this SDG: Eastern Asia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release