Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in East Asia & Pacific
East Asia & Pacific: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female was 54.71 million number in 2019. ▼ Falling
Latest (2019)
54.71 million number
Change on year
down 2.8%
Rank
21st
of 39 groups
All-time high
212.66 million number
in 1980
All-time low
54.71 million number
in 2019
Years of data
44
1976–2019
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in East Asia & Pacific, 1976–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
East Asia & Pacific recorded 54.71 million number for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 44 years on record.
The figure is down 2.8% on the previous year and down 21.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in East Asia & Pacific peaked at 212.66 million number in 1980 and was at its lowest, 54.71 million number, in 2019.
That places East Asia & Pacific 21st 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, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 207.18 million number | — |
| 1977 | 211.40 million number | +2.0% |
| 1978 | 210.93 million number | -0.2% |
| 1979 | 210.36 million number | -0.3% |
| 1980 | 212.66 million number | +1.1% |
| 1981 | 208.88 million number | -1.8% |
| 1982 | 209.79 million number | +0.4% |
| 1983 | 207.50 million number | -1.1% |
| 1984 | 206.44 million number | -0.5% |
| 1985 | 205.40 million number | -0.5% |
| 1986 | 204.77 million number | -0.3% |
| 1987 | 201.55 million number | -1.6% |
| 1988 | 174.41 million number | -13.5% |
| 1989 | 172.68 million number | -1.0% |
| 1990 | 175.66 million number | +1.7% |
| 1991 | 169.24 million number | -3.7% |
| 1992 | 167.41 million number | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 165.63 million number | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 163.08 million number | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 160.20 million number | -1.8% |
| 1996 | 158.47 million number | -1.1% |
| 1997 | 108.70 million number | -31.4% |
| 1998 | 106.47 million number | -2.1% |
| 1999 | 104.45 million number | -1.9% |
| 2000 | 103.46 million number | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 100.11 million number | -3.2% |
| 2002 | 97.66 million number | -2.4% |
| 2003 | 94.92 million number | -2.8% |
| 2004 | 92.88 million number | -2.2% |
| 2005 | 90.10 million number | -3.0% |
| 2006 | 86.55 million number | -3.9% |
| 2007 | 75.57 million number | -12.7% |
| 2008 | 73.04 million number | -3.3% |
| 2009 | 69.53 million number | -4.8% |
| 2010 | 69.43 million number | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 71.65 million number | +3.2% |
| 2012 | 69.51 million number | -3.0% |
| 2013 | 68.89 million number | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 63.29 million number | -8.1% |
| 2015 | 61.53 million number | -2.8% |
| 2016 | 60.08 million number | -2.4% |
| 2017 | 58.06 million number | -3.4% |
| 2018 | 56.27 million number | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 54.71 million number | -2.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 209.97 million number | 207.18 million number | 211.40 million number | 4 |
| 1980s | 200.41 million number | 172.68 million number | 212.66 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 147.93 million number | 104.45 million number | 175.66 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 88.38 million number | 69.53 million number | 103.46 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 63.34 million number | 54.71 million number | 71.65 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near East Asia & Pacific
More education data for East Asia & Pacific
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 174.05 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 191.34 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.4731 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0801 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 17.6% (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 68.5% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 10.94 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in East Asia & Pacific?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female in East Asia & Pacific was 54.71 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?
- The highest recorded value was 212.66 million number in 1980.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female recorded in East Asia & Pacific?
- The lowest recorded value was 54.71 million number in 2019.
- How does East Asia & Pacific rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female?
- East Asia & Pacific ranks 21st out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, female rising or falling in East Asia & Pacific?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this 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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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.