Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in SDG: Eastern Asia
SDG: Eastern Asia: Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes was 623,131 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
623,131
Change on year
down 3.2%
Rank
161st
of 204 groups
All-time high
35.45 million
in 1976
All-time low
623,131
in 2024
Years of data
49
1976–2024
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in SDG: Eastern Asia, 1976–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in SDG: Eastern Asia stood at 623,131. That is the lowest value across all 49 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.2% on the previous year and down 38.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in SDG: Eastern Asia peaked at 35.45 million in 1976 and was at its lowest, 623,131, in 2024.
SDG: Eastern Asia ranks 161st of 204 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in SDG: Eastern Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 35.45 million | — |
| 1977 | 34.77 million | -1.9% |
| 1978 | 32.37 million | -6.9% |
| 1979 | 30.67 million | -5.2% |
| 1980 | 28.38 million | -7.5% |
| 1981 | 26.41 million | -6.9% |
| 1982 | 24.96 million | -5.5% |
| 1983 | 23.15 million | -7.2% |
| 1984 | 22.18 million | -4.2% |
| 1985 | 21.76 million | -1.9% |
| 1986 | 21.44 million | -1.5% |
| 1987 | 21.01 million | -2.0% |
| 1988 | 17.09 million | -18.7% |
| 1989 | 16.52 million | -3.4% |
| 1990 | 16.03 million | -3.0% |
| 1991 | 15.32 million | -4.4% |
| 1992 | 14.59 million | -4.7% |
| 1993 | 13.91 million | -4.7% |
| 1994 | 12.97 million | -6.8% |
| 1995 | 12.10 million | -6.7% |
| 1996 | 11.28 million | -6.8% |
| 1997 | 4.21 million | -62.6% |
| 1998 | 3.96 million | -5.9% |
| 1999 | 3.62 million | -8.8% |
| 2000 | 3.37 million | -6.8% |
| 2001 | 3.20 million | -5.0% |
| 2002 | 3.04 million | -5.0% |
| 2003 | 2.87 million | -5.6% |
| 2004 | 2.72 million | -5.3% |
| 2005 | 2.60 million | -4.5% |
| 2006 | 2.49 million | -4.3% |
| 2007 | 1.67 million | -32.9% |
| 2008 | 1.53 million | -8.1% |
| 2009 | 1.47 million | -3.8% |
| 2010 | 1.55 million | +5.3% |
| 2011 | 1.44 million | -7.0% |
| 2012 | 1.34 million | -6.9% |
| 2013 | 1.24 million | -7.5% |
| 2014 | 1.01 million | -18.9% |
| 2015 | 921,684 | -8.7% |
| 2016 | 837,996 | -9.1% |
| 2017 | 833,380 | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 814,214 | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 779,953 | -4.2% |
| 2020 | 740,554 | -5.1% |
| 2021 | 702,818 | -5.1% |
| 2022 | 669,348 | -4.8% |
| 2023 | 643,887 | -3.8% |
| 2024 | 623,131 | -3.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 33.31 million | 30.67 million | 35.45 million | 4 |
| 1980s | 22.29 million | 16.52 million | 28.38 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.80 million | 3.62 million | 16.03 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.50 million | 1.47 million | 3.37 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.08 million | 779,953 | 1.55 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 675,948 | 623,131 | 740,554 | 5 |
More education data for SDG: Eastern Asia
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 63.20 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 33.69 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.56 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 34.54 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 2.06 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 109.86 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.4947 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.7719 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 21.53 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in SDG: Eastern Asia?
- Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in SDG: Eastern Asia was 623,131 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in SDG: Eastern Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 35.45 million in 1976.
- What is the lowest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in SDG: Eastern Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 623,131 in 2024.
- How does SDG: Eastern Asia rank for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes?
- SDG: Eastern Asia ranks 161st out of 204 groups with data for 2024.
- Is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes rising or falling in SDG: Eastern Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this SDG: Eastern 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 — 49 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release