Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)

East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries): Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes was 31.80 million number in 2019. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2019)
31.80 million number
Change on year
down 6.6%
Rank
26th
of 38 groups
All-time high
204.95 million number
in 1980
All-time low
31.80 million number
in 2019
Years of data
44
1976–2019

Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries), 1976–2019

50.0M100.0M150.0M200.0M1976199720191976: 198.7M number1977: 204.2M number1978: 204.1M number1979: 203.4M number1980: 205.0M number1981: 201.7M number1982: 189.6M number1983: 197.3M number1984: 194.8M number1985: 192.4M number1986: 190.1M number1987: 187.3M number1988: 157.2M number1989: 153.6M number1990: 150.4M number1991: 147.4M number1992: 144.2M number1993: 141.6M number1994: 137.8M number1995: 133.5M number1996: 130.3M number1997: 84.0M number1998: 80.3M number1999: 76.8M number2000: 66.1M number2001: 68.4M number2002: 64.6M number2003: 61.5M number2004: 57.5M number2005: 53.7M number2006: 52.1M number2007: 46.6M number2008: 43.9M number2009: 42.4M number2010: 41.2M number2011: 45.6M number2012: 44.2M number2013: 43.4M number2014: 39.5M number2015: 37.1M number2016: 35.9M number2017: 34.2M number2018: 34.0M number2019: 31.8M number

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

The most recent figure for illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) is 31.80 million number, measured in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 44 years on record.

The figure 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 (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 204.95 million number in 1980 and was at its lowest, 31.80 million number, in 2019.

That places East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) 26th out of 38 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.

Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year

Annual values for Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes (number) in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries), 1976 to 2019.
Year number Change
1976 198.67 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 53.66 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 41.19 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

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 202.59 million number 198.67 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 (IDA & IBRD countries)

  1. 23 Madagascar 2.58 million number compare
  2. 24 Benin 2.58 million number compare
  3. 25 Viet Nam 2.46 million number compare
  4. 26 Cameroon 2.16 million number compare
  5. 27 Mexico 2.16 million number compare
  6. 28 Malawi 2.15 million number compare
  7. 29 Cambodia 1.50 million number compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)

All data for East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) →

Frequently asked questions

What is illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)?
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) 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 (IDA & IBRD countries)?
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 (IDA & IBRD countries)?
The lowest recorded value was 31.80 million number in 2019.
How does East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes?
East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 26th out of 38 groups with data for 2019.
Is illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)?
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 (IDA & IBRD countries) 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.

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Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries). Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/illiterate-population-25-64-years-both-sexes-number/east-asia-and-pacific-ida-and-ibrd-countries/

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About this data

Indicator
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, both sexes (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
122 places, 2,239 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

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.