Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in South Asia
South Asia: Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes was 34.01 million number in 2019. ▼ Falling
Latest (2019)
34.01 million number
Change on year
down 5.9%
Rank
16th
of 39 groups
All-time high
94.14 million number
in 1988
All-time low
34.01 million number
in 2019
Years of data
45
1975–2019
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in South Asia, 1975–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
South Asia recorded 34.01 million number for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of down 5.9% on the previous year and down 39.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in South Asia peaked at 94.14 million number in 1988 and was at its lowest, 34.01 million number, in 2019.
South Asia ranks 16th of 39 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 45 years of available data.
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in South Asia, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 80.24 million number | — |
| 1976 | 82.50 million number | +2.8% |
| 1977 | 83.56 million number | +1.3% |
| 1978 | 84.67 million number | +1.3% |
| 1979 | 85.84 million number | +1.4% |
| 1980 | 87.17 million number | +1.5% |
| 1981 | 88.59 million number | +1.6% |
| 1982 | 89.51 million number | +1.0% |
| 1983 | 90.49 million number | +1.1% |
| 1984 | 91.46 million number | +1.1% |
| 1985 | 92.33 million number | +1.0% |
| 1986 | 92.89 million number | +0.6% |
| 1987 | 93.45 million number | +0.6% |
| 1988 | 94.14 million number | +0.7% |
| 1989 | 93.39 million number | -0.8% |
| 1990 | 92.78 million number | -0.7% |
| 1991 | 92.47 million number | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 90.72 million number | -1.9% |
| 1993 | 89.28 million number | -1.6% |
| 1994 | 88.44 million number | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 87.64 million number | -0.9% |
| 1996 | 86.78 million number | -1.0% |
| 1997 | 86.19 million number | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 79.01 million number | -8.3% |
| 1999 | 77.53 million number | -1.9% |
| 2000 | 76.23 million number | -1.7% |
| 2001 | 75.21 million number | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 73.56 million number | -2.2% |
| 2003 | 71.62 million number | -2.6% |
| 2004 | 69.97 million number | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 68.16 million number | -2.6% |
| 2006 | 64.47 million number | -5.4% |
| 2007 | 66.71 million number | +3.5% |
| 2008 | 58.90 million number | -11.7% |
| 2009 | 56.43 million number | -4.2% |
| 2010 | 56.21 million number | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 54.28 million number | -3.4% |
| 2012 | 51.85 million number | -4.5% |
| 2013 | 48.10 million number | -7.2% |
| 2014 | 45.83 million number | -4.7% |
| 2015 | 43.02 million number | -6.1% |
| 2016 | 39.62 million number | -7.9% |
| 2017 | 38.03 million number | -4.0% |
| 2018 | 36.14 million number | -5.0% |
| 2019 | 34.01 million number | -5.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 83.36 million number | 80.24 million number | 85.84 million number | 5 |
| 1980s | 91.34 million number | 87.17 million number | 94.14 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 87.08 million number | 77.53 million number | 92.78 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 68.12 million number | 56.43 million number | 76.23 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 44.71 million number | 34.01 million number | 56.21 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
More education data for South Asia
- Population ages 0-14 24.6% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 5.84 million (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 152.88 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0959 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 68.1% (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 4.5 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 160.82 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in South Asia?
- Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes in South Asia was 34.01 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 94.14 million number in 1988.
- What is the lowest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.01 million number in 2019.
- How does South Asia rank for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes?
- South Asia ranks 16th out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
- Is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 39.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this 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
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.