Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific
East Asia & Pacific: Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes was 4.06 million number in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific, 1976–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific is 4.06 million number, measured in 2019. 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 15.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific peaked at 44.64 million number in 1977 and was at its lowest, 4.06 million number, in 2019.
That places East Asia & Pacific 25th 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, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 44.35 million number | — |
| 1977 | 44.64 million number | +0.6% |
| 1978 | 42.08 million number | -5.7% |
| 1979 | 39.64 million number | -5.8% |
| 1980 | 37.44 million number | -5.6% |
| 1981 | 35.83 million number | -4.3% |
| 1982 | 34.04 million number | -5.0% |
| 1983 | 33.66 million number | -1.1% |
| 1984 | 32.62 million number | -3.1% |
| 1985 | 31.59 million number | -3.2% |
| 1986 | 30.64 million number | -3.0% |
| 1987 | 26.98 million number | -11.9% |
| 1988 | 22.84 million number | -15.4% |
| 1989 | 22.53 million number | -1.4% |
| 1990 | 22.08 million number | -2.0% |
| 1991 | 21.30 million number | -3.5% |
| 1992 | 20.43 million number | -4.1% |
| 1993 | 19.58 million number | -4.1% |
| 1994 | 18.29 million number | -6.6% |
| 1995 | 17.01 million number | -7.0% |
| 1996 | 16.02 million number | -5.8% |
| 1997 | 8.68 million number | -45.8% |
| 1998 | 8.33 million number | -4.1% |
| 1999 | 7.97 million number | -4.2% |
| 2000 | 7.87 million number | -1.3% |
| 2001 | 7.74 million number | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 7.58 million number | -2.2% |
| 2003 | 7.23 million number | -4.6% |
| 2004 | 7.04 million number | -2.6% |
| 2005 | 6.85 million number | -2.8% |
| 2006 | 7.07 million number | +3.2% |
| 2007 | 6.12 million number | -13.4% |
| 2008 | 4.72 million number | -22.8% |
| 2009 | 4.80 million number | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 4.90 million number | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 6.31 million number | +28.7% |
| 2012 | 6.03 million number | -4.3% |
| 2013 | 5.78 million number | -4.3% |
| 2014 | 4.86 million number | -15.9% |
| 2015 | 4.58 million number | -5.7% |
| 2016 | 4.42 million number | -3.4% |
| 2017 | 4.27 million number | -3.4% |
| 2018 | 4.22 million number | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 4.06 million number | -3.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 42.68 million number | 39.64 million number | 44.64 million number | 4 |
| 1980s | 30.82 million number | 22.53 million number | 37.44 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 15.97 million number | 7.97 million number | 22.08 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.70 million number | 4.72 million number | 7.87 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.94 million number | 4.06 million number | 6.31 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near East Asia & Pacific
More education data for East Asia & Pacific
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 174.05 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 191.34 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.4731 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0801 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 17.6% (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 68.5% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 10.94 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific?
- Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific was 4.06 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?
- The highest recorded value was 44.64 million number in 1977.
- What is the lowest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in East Asia & Pacific?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.06 million number in 2019.
- How does East Asia & Pacific rank for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes?
- East Asia & Pacific ranks 25th out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
- Is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes rising or falling in East Asia & Pacific?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this East Asia & Pacific 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.