Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)
East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries): Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female was 46.91 million number in 2019. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries), 1976–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) recorded 46.91 million number for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 44 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.9% on the previous year and down 21.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 195.47 million number in 1980 and was at its lowest, 46.91 million number, in 2019.
That places East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) 23rd out of 39 groups with data for 2019, putting it 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, female in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 189.67 million number | — |
| 1977 | 193.99 million number | +2.3% |
| 1978 | 193.65 million number | -0.2% |
| 1979 | 193.22 million number | -0.2% |
| 1980 | 195.47 million number | +1.2% |
| 1981 | 192.27 million number | -1.6% |
| 1982 | 193.00 million number | +0.4% |
| 1983 | 190.85 million number | -1.1% |
| 1984 | 189.91 million number | -0.5% |
| 1985 | 188.95 million number | -0.5% |
| 1986 | 188.32 million number | -0.3% |
| 1987 | 185.50 million number | -1.5% |
| 1988 | 158.81 million number | -14.4% |
| 1989 | 157.19 million number | -1.0% |
| 1990 | 160.13 million number | +1.9% |
| 1991 | 153.89 million number | -3.9% |
| 1992 | 152.19 million number | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 150.54 million number | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 148.28 million number | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 145.67 million number | -1.8% |
| 1996 | 144.15 million number | -1.0% |
| 1997 | 94.98 million number | -34.1% |
| 1998 | 92.93 million number | -2.2% |
| 1999 | 91.30 million number | -1.8% |
| 2000 | 90.42 million number | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 87.36 million number | -3.4% |
| 2002 | 85.26 million number | -2.4% |
| 2003 | 83.02 million number | -2.6% |
| 2004 | 81.26 million number | -2.1% |
| 2005 | 78.94 million number | -2.9% |
| 2006 | 75.78 million number | -4.0% |
| 2007 | 65.09 million number | -14.1% |
| 2008 | 63.13 million number | -3.0% |
| 2009 | 59.97 million number | -5.0% |
| 2010 | 59.33 million number | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 60.91 million number | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 59.14 million number | -2.9% |
| 2013 | 58.62 million number | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 54.31 million number | -7.4% |
| 2015 | 52.83 million number | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 51.60 million number | -2.3% |
| 2017 | 49.86 million number | -3.4% |
| 2018 | 48.31 million number | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 46.91 million number | -2.9% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female 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 | -34.1% | 144.15 million number | 94.98 million number |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 192.63 million number | 189.67 million number | 193.99 million number | 4 |
| 1980s | 184.03 million number | 157.19 million number | 195.47 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 133.41 million number | 91.30 million number | 160.13 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 77.02 million number | 59.97 million number | 90.42 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.18 million number | 46.91 million number | 60.91 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, female in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) was 46.91 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female recorded in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 195.47 million number in 1980.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female recorded in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.91 million number in 2019.
- How does East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female?
- East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 23rd out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female rising or falling in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.8%. 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, female (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total number of females over age 15 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life.