Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in AIMS: Asia and the Pacific
AIMS: Asia and the Pacific: Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes was 26.09 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
26.09 million
Change on year
down 5.4%
Rank
52nd
of 204 groups
All-time high
142.64 million
in 1985
All-time low
26.09 million
in 2024
Years of data
40
1985–2024
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in AIMS: Asia and the Pacific, 1985–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in AIMS: Asia and the Pacific stood at 26.09 million. That is the lowest value across all 40 years on record.
That represents a change of down 5.4% on the previous year and down 48.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in AIMS: Asia and the Pacific peaked at 142.64 million in 1985 and was at its lowest, 26.09 million, in 2024.
That places AIMS: Asia and the Pacific 52nd out of 204 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 40 years of available data.
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in AIMS: Asia and the Pacific, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 142.64 million | — |
| 1986 | 141.39 million | -0.9% |
| 1987 | 137.51 million | -2.7% |
| 1988 | 132.71 million | -3.5% |
| 1989 | 129.43 million | -2.5% |
| 1990 | 125.93 million | -2.7% |
| 1991 | 122.92 million | -2.4% |
| 1992 | 119.13 million | -3.1% |
| 1993 | 115.53 million | -3.0% |
| 1994 | 112.02 million | -3.0% |
| 1995 | 108.46 million | -3.2% |
| 1996 | 105.37 million | -2.9% |
| 1997 | 96.48 million | -8.4% |
| 1998 | 87.95 million | -8.8% |
| 1999 | 85.19 million | -3.1% |
| 2000 | 82.89 million | -2.7% |
| 2001 | 82.20 million | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 80.47 million | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 78.03 million | -3.0% |
| 2004 | 76.19 million | -2.4% |
| 2005 | 74.21 million | -2.6% |
| 2006 | 76.31 million | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 73.01 million | -4.3% |
| 2008 | 68.33 million | -6.4% |
| 2009 | 65.79 million | -3.7% |
| 2010 | 62.03 million | -5.7% |
| 2011 | 60.85 million | -1.9% |
| 2012 | 58.94 million | -3.1% |
| 2013 | 54.03 million | -8.3% |
| 2014 | 50.84 million | -5.9% |
| 2015 | 47.34 million | -6.9% |
| 2016 | 43.68 million | -7.7% |
| 2017 | 42.07 million | -3.7% |
| 2018 | 43.03 million | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 33.96 million | -21.1% |
| 2020 | 32.18 million | -5.2% |
| 2021 | 30.45 million | -5.4% |
| 2022 | 29.26 million | -3.9% |
| 2023 | 27.59 million | -5.7% |
| 2024 | 26.09 million | -5.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 136.73 million | 129.43 million | 142.64 million | 5 |
| 1990s | 107.90 million | 85.19 million | 125.93 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 75.74 million | 65.79 million | 82.89 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 49.68 million | 33.96 million | 62.03 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.11 million | 26.09 million | 32.18 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near AIMS: Asia and the Pacific
More education data for AIMS: Asia and the Pacific
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 366.63 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.6455 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 175.71 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 1.2 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 17.98 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.3932 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 2.65 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 2.31 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 191.31 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 190.92 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in AIMS: Asia and the Pacific?
- Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in AIMS: Asia and the Pacific was 26.09 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in AIMS: Asia and the Pacific?
- The highest recorded value was 142.64 million in 1985.
- What is the lowest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in AIMS: Asia and the Pacific?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.09 million in 2024.
- How does AIMS: Asia and the Pacific rank for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes?
- AIMS: Asia and the Pacific ranks 52nd out of 204 groups with data for 2024.
- Is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes rising or falling in AIMS: Asia and the Pacific?
- Over the last ten years it is down 48.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this AIMS: Asia and the Pacific data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release