Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in MDG: Southern Asia
MDG: Southern Asia: Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes was 23.38 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in MDG: Southern Asia, 1999–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in MDG: Southern Asia is 23.38 million, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.
The figure is down 5.8% on the previous year and down 50.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in MDG: Southern Asia peaked at 77.19 million in 1999 and was at its lowest, 23.38 million, in 2024.
That places MDG: Southern Asia 63rd 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 26 years of available data.
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in MDG: Southern Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 77.19 million | — |
| 2000 | 74.95 million | -2.9% |
| 2001 | 74.41 million | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 72.87 million | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 70.78 million | -2.9% |
| 2004 | 69.18 million | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 67.42 million | -2.6% |
| 2006 | 68.77 million | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 66.84 million | -2.8% |
| 2008 | 63.53 million | -4.9% |
| 2009 | 60.86 million | -4.2% |
| 2010 | 56.39 million | -7.3% |
| 2011 | 55.53 million | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 53.84 million | -3.0% |
| 2013 | 49.29 million | -8.5% |
| 2014 | 46.98 million | -4.7% |
| 2015 | 43.77 million | -6.8% |
| 2016 | 40.30 million | -7.9% |
| 2017 | 38.76 million | -3.8% |
| 2018 | 39.52 million | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 30.58 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 | 77.19 million | 77.19 million | 77.19 million | 1 |
| 2000s | 68.96 million | 60.86 million | 74.95 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 45.50 million | 30.58 million | 56.39 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.23 million | 23.38 million | 29.10 million | 5 |
More education data for MDG: Southern Asia
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 7.57 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -0.56 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 6.70 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 2.81 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 88.16 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.205 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 94.56 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate -1.26 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 54.48 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 28.18 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in MDG: Southern Asia?
- Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in MDG: Southern Asia 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 MDG: Southern Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 77.19 million in 1999.
- What is the lowest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in MDG: Southern Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.38 million in 2024.
- How does MDG: Southern Asia rank for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes?
- MDG: Southern Asia ranks 63rd out of 204 groups with data for 2024.
- Is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes rising or falling in MDG: Southern Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 50.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this MDG: Southern Asia 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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CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release