Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420)
ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420): Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes was 23.38 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420), 1999–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420) is 23.38 million, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.8% on the previous year and down 50.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420) peaked at 77.85 million in 1999 and was at its lowest, 23.38 million, in 2024.
ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420) ranks 62nd of 204 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 77.85 million | — |
| 2000 | 75.51 million | -3.0% |
| 2001 | 74.95 million | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 73.40 million | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 71.31 million | -2.8% |
| 2004 | 69.73 million | -2.2% |
| 2005 | 67.90 million | -2.6% |
| 2006 | 69.24 million | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 67.28 million | -2.8% |
| 2008 | 63.95 million | -5.0% |
| 2009 | 61.13 million | -4.4% |
| 2010 | 56.61 million | -7.4% |
| 2011 | 55.70 million | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 53.97 million | -3.1% |
| 2013 | 49.39 million | -8.5% |
| 2014 | 47.06 million | -4.7% |
| 2015 | 43.83 million | -6.9% |
| 2016 | 40.35 million | -7.9% |
| 2017 | 38.80 million | -3.9% |
| 2018 | 39.54 million | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 30.59 million | -22.6% |
| 2020 | 29.10 million | -4.9% |
| 2021 | 27.48 million | -5.6% |
| 2022 | 26.41 million | -3.9% |
| 2023 | 24.81 million | -6.0% |
| 2024 | 23.38 million | -5.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 77.85 million | 77.85 million | 77.85 million | 1 |
| 2000s | 69.44 million | 61.13 million | 75.51 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 45.58 million | 30.59 million | 56.61 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.24 million | 23.38 million | 29.10 million | 5 |
More education data for ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -0.5261 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 100.71 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.1925 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 93.84 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 2.69 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.01 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 108.65 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 3.99 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 4.46 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate -1.19 % change on previous year (2024)
All data for ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420)?
- Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420) was 23.38 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420)?
- The highest recorded value was 77.85 million in 1999.
- What is the lowest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420)?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.38 million in 2024.
- How does ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420) rank for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes?
- ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420) ranks 62nd out of 204 groups with data for 2024.
- Is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes rising or falling in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 50.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420) 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.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release