Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in MDG: Southern Asia (excluding India)
MDG: Southern Asia (excluding India): Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes was 16.58 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
16.58 million
Change on year
down 3.2%
Rank
79th
of 204 groups
All-time high
30.17 million
in 1987
All-time low
16.58 million
in 2024
Years of data
50
1975–2024
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in MDG: Southern Asia (excluding India), 1975–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in MDG: Southern Asia (excluding India) stood at 16.58 million. That is the lowest value across all 50 years on record.
The figure is down 3.2% on the previous year and down 19.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in MDG: Southern Asia (excluding India) peaked at 30.17 million in 1987 and was at its lowest, 16.58 million, in 2024.
That places MDG: Southern Asia (excluding India) 79th 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 50 years of available data.
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in MDG: Southern Asia (excluding India), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 24.36 million | — |
| 1976 | 25.12 million | +3.1% |
| 1977 | 25.66 million | +2.1% |
| 1978 | 26.19 million | +2.1% |
| 1979 | 26.69 million | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 27.26 million | +2.1% |
| 1981 | 27.93 million | +2.5% |
| 1982 | 28.39 million | +1.7% |
| 1983 | 28.73 million | +1.2% |
| 1984 | 29.12 million | +1.4% |
| 1985 | 29.44 million | +1.1% |
| 1986 | 29.78 million | +1.2% |
| 1987 | 30.17 million | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 29.45 million | -2.4% |
| 1989 | 29.56 million | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 29.23 million | -1.1% |
| 1991 | 29.46 million | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 28.90 million | -1.9% |
| 1993 | 28.37 million | -1.8% |
| 1994 | 28.54 million | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 28.51 million | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 28.69 million | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 28.99 million | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 27.79 million | -4.1% |
| 1999 | 27.63 million | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 27.57 million | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 27.52 million | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 27.28 million | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 26.49 million | -2.9% |
| 2004 | 26.23 million | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 25.86 million | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 29.37 million | +13.6% |
| 2007 | 29.49 million | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 28.21 million | -4.3% |
| 2009 | 27.53 million | -2.4% |
| 2010 | 22.92 million | -16.8% |
| 2011 | 23.51 million | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 23.78 million | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 21.12 million | -11.2% |
| 2014 | 20.64 million | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 19.14 million | -7.3% |
| 2016 | 17.27 million | -9.8% |
| 2017 | 17.16 million | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 19.22 million | +12.0% |
| 2019 | 18.60 million | -3.3% |
| 2020 | 18.23 million | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 17.72 million | -2.8% |
| 2022 | 17.73 million | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 17.12 million | -3.5% |
| 2024 | 16.58 million | -3.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 25.60 million | 24.36 million | 26.69 million | 5 |
| 1980s | 28.98 million | 27.26 million | 30.17 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 28.61 million | 27.63 million | 29.46 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 27.55 million | 25.86 million | 29.49 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.34 million | 17.16 million | 23.78 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.48 million | 16.58 million | 18.23 million | 5 |
More education data for MDG: Southern Asia (excluding India)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 4.49 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 3.65 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.68 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate -0.7828 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 24.83 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 3.99 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 26.38 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 3.33 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 16.69 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 6.02 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in MDG: Southern Asia (excluding India)?
- Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in MDG: Southern Asia (excluding India) was 16.58 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in MDG: Southern Asia (excluding India)?
- The highest recorded value was 30.17 million in 1987.
- What is the lowest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in MDG: Southern Asia (excluding India)?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.58 million in 2024.
- How does MDG: Southern Asia (excluding India) rank for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes?
- MDG: Southern Asia (excluding India) ranks 79th out of 204 groups with data for 2024.
- Is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes rising or falling in MDG: Southern Asia (excluding India)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this MDG: Southern Asia (excluding India) 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