Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in WB: East Asia & Pacific

WB: East Asia & Pacific: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female was 45.24 million in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
45.24 million
Change on year
down 3.2%
Rank
87th
of 203 groups
All-time high
175.30 million
in 1989
All-time low
45.24 million
in 2024
Years of data
36
1989–2024

Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in WB: East Asia & Pacific, 1989–2024

50.0M100.0M150.0M200.0M1989200620241989: 175.3M1990: 170.1M1991: 168.3M1992: 166.3M1993: 164.3M1994: 161.6M1995: 159.0M1996: 156.9M1997: 108.3M1998: 106.4M1999: 104.7M2000: 102.7M2001: 100.7M2002: 98.6M2003: 96.1M2004: 94.1M2005: 91.7M2006: 89.2M2007: 77.1M2008: 74.4M2009: 71.6M2010: 71.6M2011: 70.1M2012: 67.8M2013: 67.3M2014: 61.9M2015: 60.3M2016: 58.2M2017: 55.9M2018: 55.0M2019: 53.4M2020: 51.3M2021: 49.8M2022: 48.1M2023: 46.7M2024: 45.2M

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

The most recent figure for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in WB: East Asia & Pacific is 45.24 million, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.

The figure is down 3.2% on the previous year and down 26.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in WB: East Asia & Pacific peaked at 175.30 million in 1989 and was at its lowest, 45.24 million, in 2024.

That places WB: East Asia & Pacific 87th 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, female in WB: East Asia & Pacific, year by year

Annual values for Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female (number) in WB: East Asia & Pacific, 1989 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1989 175.30 million
1990 170.13 million -2.9%
1991 168.26 million -1.1%
1992 166.32 million -1.2%
1993 164.28 million -1.2%
1994 161.64 million -1.6%
1995 158.96 million -1.7%
1996 156.86 million -1.3%
1997 108.26 million -31.0%
1998 106.38 million -1.7%
1999 104.67 million -1.6%
2000 102.70 million -1.9%
2001 100.71 million -1.9%
2002 98.59 million -2.1%
2003 96.07 million -2.6%
2004 94.07 million -2.1%
2005 91.73 million -2.5%
2006 89.24 million -2.7%
2007 77.09 million -13.6%
2008 74.42 million -3.5%
2009 71.58 million -3.8%
2010 71.62 million +0.1%
2011 70.14 million -2.1%
2012 67.77 million -3.4%
2013 67.34 million -0.6%
2014 61.87 million -8.1%
2015 60.30 million -2.5%
2016 58.15 million -3.6%
2017 55.87 million -3.9%
2018 54.99 million -1.6%
2019 53.39 million -2.9%
2020 51.30 million -3.9%
2021 49.78 million -3.0%
2022 48.15 million -3.3%
2023 46.72 million -3.0%
2024 45.24 million -3.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 175.30 million 175.30 million 175.30 million 1
1990s 146.58 million 104.67 million 170.13 million 10
2000s 89.62 million 71.58 million 102.70 million 10
2010s 62.15 million 53.39 million 71.62 million 10
2020s 48.24 million 45.24 million 51.30 million 5

More education data for WB: East Asia & Pacific

All data for WB: East Asia & Pacific →

Frequently asked questions

What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in WB: East Asia & Pacific?
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in WB: East Asia & Pacific was 45.24 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female recorded in WB: East Asia & Pacific?
The highest recorded value was 175.30 million in 1989.
What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female recorded in WB: East Asia & Pacific?
The lowest recorded value was 45.24 million in 2024.
How does WB: East Asia & Pacific rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female?
WB: East Asia & Pacific ranks 87th out of 203 groups with data for 2024.
Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female rising or falling in WB: East Asia & Pacific?
Over the last ten years it is down 26.9%. 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, female (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in WB: East Asia & Pacific. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 12 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/adult-illiterate-population-15-years-female-number-2/wb-east-asia-and-pacific/

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About this data

Indicator
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
262 places, 6,969 data points, 1989–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release