Brazil vs South Africa: Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, rural, both sexes

Brazil
82.5%
in 2018
South Africa
77.6%
in 2017
Brazil rank
22nd
South Africa rank
25th

Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, rural, both sexes over time

  • Brazil
  • South Africa
020406080198019992018

How they compare

Brazil currently reports 82.5% against 77.6% in South Africa, a difference of 4.9%.

That makes Brazil's figure about 1.1 times South Africa's.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 7 shared years of data; in 2009 it was South Africa ahead.

Brazil ranks 22nd and South Africa ranks 25th of 38 countries.

South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 2 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Brazil South Africa Difference Ahead
2000s 77.2% 86.7% 9.5% South Africa
2010s 79.5% 85.9% 6.4% South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, rural, both sexes, Brazil or South Africa?
Brazil, at 82.5% against 77.6% in South Africa as of 2018.
What is the difference in adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, rural, both sexes between Brazil and South Africa?
4.9%, with Brazil ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Brazil and South Africa?
7 years are reported by both, from 2009 to 2017.
How do Brazil and South Africa rank globally for adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, rural, both sexes?
Brazil ranks 22nd and South Africa ranks 25th of 38 countries.
Where does this data come from?
UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, rural, both sexes (%). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Brazil vs South Africa: Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, rural, both sexes. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/compare/adult-literacy-rate-population-15-years-rural-both-sexes-percent/brazil/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, rural, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
38 places, 341 data points, 1976–2019
Last refreshed

Total number of adults in rural areas over age 15 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life. For more information, consult the UNESCO Institute of Statistics website: http://www.uis.unesco.org/Education/