Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)
East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income): Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes was 31.80 million number in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Illiterate population, 25-64 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 31.80 million number for illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 44 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.6% on the previous year and down 24.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) peaked at 204.95 million number in 1980 and was at its lowest, 31.80 million number, in 2019.
East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) ranks 28th 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.
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 198.66 million number | — |
| 1977 | 204.21 million number | +2.8% |
| 1978 | 204.07 million number | -0.1% |
| 1979 | 203.39 million number | -0.3% |
| 1980 | 204.95 million number | +0.8% |
| 1981 | 201.73 million number | -1.6% |
| 1982 | 189.62 million number | -6.0% |
| 1983 | 197.34 million number | +4.1% |
| 1984 | 194.83 million number | -1.3% |
| 1985 | 192.42 million number | -1.2% |
| 1986 | 190.08 million number | -1.2% |
| 1987 | 187.33 million number | -1.4% |
| 1988 | 157.18 million number | -16.1% |
| 1989 | 153.56 million number | -2.3% |
| 1990 | 150.41 million number | -2.0% |
| 1991 | 147.36 million number | -2.0% |
| 1992 | 144.19 million number | -2.2% |
| 1993 | 141.59 million number | -1.8% |
| 1994 | 137.75 million number | -2.7% |
| 1995 | 133.47 million number | -3.1% |
| 1996 | 130.27 million number | -2.4% |
| 1997 | 84.05 million number | -35.5% |
| 1998 | 80.34 million number | -4.4% |
| 1999 | 76.84 million number | -4.4% |
| 2000 | 66.06 million number | -14.0% |
| 2001 | 68.41 million number | +3.6% |
| 2002 | 64.65 million number | -5.5% |
| 2003 | 61.46 million number | -4.9% |
| 2004 | 57.50 million number | -6.4% |
| 2005 | 53.65 million number | -6.7% |
| 2006 | 52.07 million number | -3.0% |
| 2007 | 46.57 million number | -10.6% |
| 2008 | 43.90 million number | -5.7% |
| 2009 | 42.37 million number | -3.5% |
| 2010 | 41.18 million number | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 45.62 million number | +10.8% |
| 2012 | 44.15 million number | -3.2% |
| 2013 | 43.39 million number | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 39.52 million number | -8.9% |
| 2015 | 37.06 million number | -6.2% |
| 2016 | 35.86 million number | -3.2% |
| 2017 | 34.16 million number | -4.7% |
| 2018 | 34.03 million number | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 31.80 million number | -6.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 202.58 million number | 198.66 million number | 204.21 million number | 4 |
| 1980s | 186.90 million number | 153.56 million number | 204.95 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 122.63 million number | 76.84 million number | 150.41 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 55.66 million number | 42.37 million number | 68.41 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 38.68 million number | 31.80 million number | 45.62 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 illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)?
- Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) was 31.80 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 204.95 million number in 1980.
- What is the lowest illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.80 million number in 2019.
- How does East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) rank for illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes?
- East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) ranks 28th out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
- Is illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.9%. 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 Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 44 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Total number of adults from age 25 to age 64 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life.