Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)
East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries): 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 (IDA & IBRD countries), 1976–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2019, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) stood at 3.43 million number. That is the lowest value across all 44 years on record.
That represents a change of 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 (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 42.21 million number in 1977 and was at its lowest, 3.43 million number, in 2019.
That places East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) 26th out of 39 groups with data for 2019, putting it 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 (IDA & IBRD countries), 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 (IDA & IBRD countries) 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 (IDA & IBRD countries)
More education data for East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 159.24 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 177.79 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.5719 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0841 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 10.06 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) 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 (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- 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 (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.43 million number in 2019.
- How does East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes?
- East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 26th out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
- Is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes rising or falling in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- 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 (IDA & IBRD countries) 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.