Illiterate population, 25-64 years, female in East Asia & Pacific

East Asia & Pacific: Illiterate population, 25-64 years, female was 24.64 million number in 2019. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2019)
24.64 million number
Change on year
down 7.3%
Rank
24th
of 38 groups
All-time high
150.84 million number
in 1980
All-time low
24.64 million number
in 2019
Years of data
44
1976–2019

Illiterate population, 25-64 years, female in East Asia & Pacific, 1976–2019

050.0M100.0M150.0M1976199720191976: 144.9M number1977: 148.5M number1978: 148.9M number1979: 148.9M number1980: 150.8M number1981: 148.8M number1982: 143.4M number1983: 146.9M number1984: 145.6M number1985: 144.3M number1986: 143.4M number1987: 142.1M number1988: 120.7M number1989: 118.1M number1990: 116.4M number1991: 114.1M number1992: 112.0M number1993: 110.1M number1994: 107.5M number1995: 104.5M number1996: 102.3M number1997: 67.6M number1998: 64.8M number1999: 62.1M number2000: 55.0M number2001: 56.0M number2002: 53.2M number2003: 50.5M number2004: 47.8M number2005: 44.9M number2006: 43.5M number2007: 38.8M number2008: 36.5M number2009: 34.9M number2010: 34.1M number2011: 36.9M number2012: 35.6M number2013: 34.9M number2014: 31.5M number2015: 29.3M number2016: 28.3M number2017: 26.9M number2018: 26.6M number2019: 24.6M number

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

East Asia & Pacific recorded 24.64 million number for illiterate population, 25-64 years, female in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 44 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.3% on the previous year and down 29.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, illiterate population, 25-64 years, female in East Asia & Pacific peaked at 150.84 million number in 1980 and was at its lowest, 24.64 million number, in 2019.

That places East Asia & Pacific 24th 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, female in East Asia & Pacific, year by year

Annual values for Illiterate population, 25-64 years, female (number) in East Asia & Pacific, 1976 to 2019.
Year number Change
1976 144.93 million number
1977 148.52 million number +2.5%
1978 148.94 million number +0.3%
1979 148.88 million number -0.0%
1980 150.84 million number +1.3%
1981 148.78 million number -1.4%
1982 143.38 million number -3.6%
1983 146.86 million number +2.4%
1984 145.56 million number -0.9%
1985 144.32 million number -0.9%
1986 143.40 million number -0.6%
1987 142.09 million number -0.9%
1988 120.71 million number -15.0%
1989 118.11 million number -2.2%
1990 116.37 million number -1.5%
1991 114.14 million number -1.9%
1992 112.04 million number -1.8%
1993 110.12 million number -1.7%
1994 107.48 million number -2.4%
1995 104.52 million number -2.7%
1996 102.29 million number -2.1%
1997 67.58 million number -33.9%
1998 64.78 million number -4.1%
1999 62.05 million number -4.2%
2000 54.99 million number -11.4%
2001 56.01 million number +1.9%
2002 53.18 million number -5.0%
2003 50.52 million number -5.0%
2004 47.75 million number -5.5%
2005 44.89 million number -6.0%
2006 43.52 million number -3.0%
2007 38.82 million number -10.8%
2008 36.50 million number -6.0%
2009 34.87 million number -4.5%
2010 34.13 million number -2.1%
2011 36.89 million number +8.1%
2012 35.63 million number -3.4%
2013 34.91 million number -2.0%
2014 31.48 million number -9.8%
2015 29.33 million number -6.8%
2016 28.27 million number -3.6%
2017 26.87 million number -4.9%
2018 26.57 million number -1.1%
2019 24.64 million number -7.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 147.82 million number 144.93 million number 148.94 million number 4
1980s 140.41 million number 118.11 million number 150.84 million number 10
1990s 96.14 million number 62.05 million number 116.37 million number 10
2000s 46.10 million number 34.87 million number 56.01 million number 10
2010s 30.87 million number 24.64 million number 36.89 million number 10

Countries ranked near East Asia & Pacific

  1. 21 Thailand 1.80 million number compare
  2. 22 South Africa 1.74 million number compare
  3. 23 Benin 1.56 million number compare
  4. 24 Viet Nam 1.45 million number compare
  5. 25 Madagascar 1.43 million number compare
  6. 26 Malawi 1.35 million number compare
  7. 27 Cameroon 1.35 million number compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for East Asia & Pacific

All data for East Asia & Pacific →

Frequently asked questions

What is illiterate population, 25-64 years, female in East Asia & Pacific?
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, female in East Asia & Pacific was 24.64 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest illiterate population, 25-64 years, female recorded in East Asia & Pacific?
The highest recorded value was 150.84 million number in 1980.
What is the lowest illiterate population, 25-64 years, female recorded in East Asia & Pacific?
The lowest recorded value was 24.64 million number in 2019.
How does East Asia & Pacific rank for illiterate population, 25-64 years, female?
East Asia & Pacific ranks 24th out of 38 groups with data for 2019.
Is illiterate population, 25-64 years, female rising or falling in East Asia & Pacific?
Over the last ten years it is down 29.3%. 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 Illiterate population, 25-64 years, female (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Illiterate population, 25-64 years, female in East Asia & Pacific. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 26 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/illiterate-population-25-64-years-female-number/east-asia-and-pacific/

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About this data

Indicator
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, female (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
122 places, 2,240 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Total number of females from age 25 to age 64 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life.