Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)
East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income): Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes was 3.43 million number in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income), 1976–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) recorded 3.43 million number for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 44 years on record.
The figure is down 3.7% on the previous year and down 13.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) peaked at 42.21 million number in 1977 and was at its lowest, 3.43 million number, in 2019.
East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) ranks 27th of 39 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
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 East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 41.85 million number | — |
| 1977 | 42.21 million number | +0.9% |
| 1978 | 39.73 million number | -5.9% |
| 1979 | 37.34 million number | -6.0% |
| 1980 | 35.17 million number | -5.8% |
| 1981 | 33.58 million number | -4.5% |
| 1982 | 31.83 million number | -5.2% |
| 1983 | 31.46 million number | -1.2% |
| 1984 | 30.44 million number | -3.2% |
| 1985 | 29.40 million number | -3.4% |
| 1986 | 28.43 million number | -3.3% |
| 1987 | 24.90 million number | -12.4% |
| 1988 | 20.80 million number | -16.5% |
| 1989 | 20.48 million number | -1.6% |
| 1990 | 20.03 million number | -2.2% |
| 1991 | 19.27 million number | -3.8% |
| 1992 | 18.45 million number | -4.2% |
| 1993 | 17.66 million number | -4.3% |
| 1994 | 16.48 million number | -6.7% |
| 1995 | 15.31 million number | -7.1% |
| 1996 | 14.43 million number | -5.8% |
| 1997 | 7.19 million number | -50.2% |
| 1998 | 6.88 million number | -4.3% |
| 1999 | 6.66 million number | -3.2% |
| 2000 | 6.62 million number | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 6.51 million number | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 6.38 million number | -1.9% |
| 2003 | 6.12 million number | -4.1% |
| 2004 | 6.00 million number | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 5.85 million number | -2.6% |
| 2006 | 6.11 million number | +4.6% |
| 2007 | 5.21 million number | -14.7% |
| 2008 | 3.89 million number | -25.5% |
| 2009 | 3.97 million number | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 3.96 million number | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 5.29 million number | +33.5% |
| 2012 | 5.06 million number | -4.4% |
| 2013 | 4.83 million number | -4.4% |
| 2014 | 4.10 million number | -15.1% |
| 2015 | 3.86 million number | -6.0% |
| 2016 | 3.73 million number | -3.4% |
| 2017 | 3.60 million number | -3.4% |
| 2018 | 3.56 million number | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 3.43 million number | -3.7% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | -50.2% | 14.43 million number | 7.19 million number |
| 2011 | +33.5% | 3.96 million number | 5.29 million number |
| 2008 | -25.5% | 5.21 million number | 3.89 million number |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 40.28 million number | 37.34 million number | 42.21 million number | 4 |
| 1980s | 28.65 million number | 20.48 million number | 35.17 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 14.24 million number | 6.66 million number | 20.03 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.67 million number | 3.89 million number | 6.62 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.14 million number | 3.43 million number | 5.29 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)
More education data for East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 161.08 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 179.31 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.5749 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0837 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 18.2% (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 69.1% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 10.13 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)?
- Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) was 3.43 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 42.21 million number in 1977.
- What is the lowest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.43 million number in 2019.
- How does East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) rank for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes?
- East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) ranks 27th out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
- Is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes rising or falling in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) 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
Total number of youth between age 15 and age 24 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life.