Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in WB: South Asia
WB: South Asia: Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes was 9.09 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in WB: South Asia, 1999–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
WB: South Asia recorded 9.09 million for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.
The figure is down 9.9% on the previous year and down 71.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in WB: South Asia peaked at 61.91 million in 1999 and was at its lowest, 9.09 million, in 2024.
That places WB: South Asia 87th 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 WB: South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 61.91 million | — |
| 2000 | 59.47 million | -3.9% |
| 2001 | 58.80 million | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 57.09 million | -2.9% |
| 2003 | 55.35 million | -3.0% |
| 2004 | 53.57 million | -3.2% |
| 2005 | 51.71 million | -3.5% |
| 2006 | 52.73 million | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 50.38 million | -4.5% |
| 2008 | 48.06 million | -4.6% |
| 2009 | 45.73 million | -4.9% |
| 2010 | 41.21 million | -9.9% |
| 2011 | 39.62 million | -3.9% |
| 2012 | 38.70 million | -2.3% |
| 2013 | 33.63 million | -13.1% |
| 2014 | 31.84 million | -5.3% |
| 2015 | 29.09 million | -8.6% |
| 2016 | 26.10 million | -10.3% |
| 2017 | 24.42 million | -6.4% |
| 2018 | 22.97 million | -6.0% |
| 2019 | 14.13 million | -38.5% |
| 2020 | 13.08 million | -7.4% |
| 2021 | 11.83 million | -9.5% |
| 2022 | 11.20 million | -5.4% |
| 2023 | 10.09 million | -9.9% |
| 2024 | 9.09 million | -9.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 61.91 million | 61.91 million | 61.91 million | 1 |
| 2000s | 53.29 million | 45.73 million | 59.47 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.17 million | 14.13 million | 41.21 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.06 million | 9.09 million | 13.08 million | 5 |
More education data for WB: South Asia
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate 4.46 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate -1.3 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 74.44 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 3.24 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 5.84 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -2.02 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 152.88 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 77.39 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 160.82 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 4.5 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in WB: South Asia?
- Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in WB: South Asia was 9.09 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in WB: South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 61.91 million in 1999.
- What is the lowest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in WB: South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.09 million in 2024.
- How does WB: South Asia rank for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes?
- WB: South Asia ranks 87th out of 204 groups with data for 2024.
- Is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes rising or falling in WB: South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 71.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this WB: South 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