Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)
East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income): Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes was 32.14 million number in 2019. ▼ Falling
Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income), 1976–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2019, elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) stood at 32.14 million number. That is the lowest value across all 44 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.6% on the previous year and down 15.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) peaked at 58.88 million number in 1996 and was at its lowest, 32.14 million number, in 2019.
East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) ranks 15th of 38 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 44 years of available data.
Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 37.80 million number | — |
| 1977 | 39.31 million number | +4.0% |
| 1978 | 40.83 million number | +3.9% |
| 1979 | 42.54 million number | +4.2% |
| 1980 | 44.43 million number | +4.5% |
| 1981 | 45.71 million number | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 47.41 million number | +3.7% |
| 1983 | 49.08 million number | +3.5% |
| 1984 | 50.70 million number | +3.3% |
| 1985 | 52.29 million number | +3.1% |
| 1986 | 53.89 million number | +3.1% |
| 1987 | 54.32 million number | +0.8% |
| 1988 | 48.02 million number | -11.6% |
| 1989 | 49.29 million number | +2.7% |
| 1990 | 58.86 million number | +19.4% |
| 1991 | 51.88 million number | -11.9% |
| 1992 | 53.27 million number | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 54.46 million number | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 55.91 million number | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 57.27 million number | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 58.88 million number | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 43.04 million number | -26.9% |
| 1998 | 44.14 million number | +2.5% |
| 1999 | 45.71 million number | +3.6% |
| 2000 | 47.19 million number | +3.2% |
| 2001 | 48.21 million number | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 49.15 million number | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 49.79 million number | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 51.07 million number | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 51.71 million number | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 48.94 million number | -5.4% |
| 2007 | 39.69 million number | -18.9% |
| 2008 | 40.20 million number | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 37.79 million number | -6.0% |
| 2010 | 37.24 million number | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 36.66 million number | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 35.76 million number | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 35.99 million number | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 34.59 million number | -3.9% |
| 2015 | 34.21 million number | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 33.94 million number | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 33.54 million number | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 32.65 million number | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 32.14 million number | -1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 40.12 million number | 37.80 million number | 42.54 million number | 4 |
| 1980s | 49.51 million number | 44.43 million number | 54.32 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 52.34 million number | 43.04 million number | 58.88 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 46.37 million number | 37.79 million number | 51.71 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 34.67 million number | 32.14 million number | 37.24 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)
More reference data data for East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 1,740 (2026)
- CPI Price, nominal 142.49 (2026)
- CPI Price, nominal, seas. adj. 142.66 (2026)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 29.41 million number (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, both sexes 6.11 years (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 13.95 million number (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 15.47 million number (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, male 6.13 years (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, female 6.1 years (2019)
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in general 84.2% (2019)
Frequently asked questions
- What is elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)?
- Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) was 32.14 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes recorded in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 58.88 million number in 1996.
- What is the lowest elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes recorded in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.14 million number in 2019.
- How does East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) rank for elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes?
- East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) ranks 15th out of 38 groups with data for 2019.
- Is elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes rising or falling in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total number of adults over age 65 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life.