Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in SDG: Central and Southern Asia
SDG: Central and Southern Asia: Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes was 23.39 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in SDG: Central and Southern Asia, 1999–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in SDG: Central and Southern Asia is 23.39 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 SDG: Central and Southern Asia peaked at 77.20 million in 1999 and was at its lowest, 23.39 million, in 2024.
SDG: Central and Southern Asia ranks 61st 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 SDG: Central and Southern Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 77.20 million | — |
| 2000 | 74.97 million | -2.9% |
| 2001 | 74.43 million | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 72.89 million | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 70.80 million | -2.9% |
| 2004 | 69.20 million | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 67.43 million | -2.6% |
| 2006 | 68.78 million | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 66.85 million | -2.8% |
| 2008 | 63.55 million | -4.9% |
| 2009 | 60.87 million | -4.2% |
| 2010 | 56.40 million | -7.3% |
| 2011 | 55.54 million | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 53.85 million | -3.0% |
| 2013 | 49.30 million | -8.5% |
| 2014 | 46.99 million | -4.7% |
| 2015 | 43.78 million | -6.8% |
| 2016 | 40.31 million | -7.9% |
| 2017 | 38.77 million | -3.8% |
| 2018 | 39.53 million | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 30.59 million | -22.6% |
| 2020 | 29.10 million | -4.9% |
| 2021 | 27.49 million | -5.6% |
| 2022 | 26.42 million | -3.9% |
| 2023 | 24.82 million | -6.0% |
| 2024 | 23.39 million | -5.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 77.20 million | 77.20 million | 77.20 million | 1 |
| 2000s | 68.98 million | 60.87 million | 74.97 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 45.51 million | 30.59 million | 56.40 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.24 million | 23.39 million | 29.10 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near SDG: Central and Southern Asia
- 58 Uzbekistan 4 compare
More education data for SDG: Central and Southern Asia
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 92.92 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 58.28 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate -1.08 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 99.66 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.3161 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.04 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 192.58 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -0.4111 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 8.99 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 2.87 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in SDG: Central and Southern Asia?
- Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in SDG: Central and Southern Asia was 23.39 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in SDG: Central and Southern Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 77.20 million in 1999.
- What is the lowest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in SDG: Central and Southern Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.39 million in 2024.
- How does SDG: Central and Southern Asia rank for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes?
- SDG: Central and Southern Asia ranks 61st out of 204 groups with data for 2024.
- Is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes rising or falling in SDG: Central and 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 SDG: Central and 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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About this data
February 2026 Data Release