Mexico vs South Africa: Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes

Mexico
1.77 million number
in 2018
South Africa
1.35 million number
in 2017
Mexico rank
11th
South Africa rank
14th

Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes over time

  • Mexico
  • South Africa
500.0k1.0M1.5M2.0M198019992018

How they compare

Mexico currently reports 1.77 million number against 1.35 million number in South Africa, a difference of 418,760 number.

That makes Mexico's figure about 1.3 times South Africa's.

Across all 9 years both countries report, Mexico has been ahead every year.

Mexico ranks 11th and South Africa ranks 14th of 82 countries.

Mexico has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Mexico South Africa Difference Ahead
1980s 1.12 million number 473,263 number 644,077 number Mexico
2000s 1.72 million number 878,040 number 842,250 number Mexico
2010s 1.88 million number 875,518 number 1.01 million number Mexico

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes, Mexico or South Africa?
Mexico, at 1.77 million number against 1.35 million number in South Africa as of 2018.
What is the difference in elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes between Mexico and South Africa?
418,760 number, with Mexico ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Mexico and South Africa?
9 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2017.
How do Mexico and South Africa rank globally for elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes?
Mexico ranks 11th and South Africa ranks 14th of 82 countries.
Where does this data come from?
UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes (number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Mexico vs South Africa: Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/compare/elderly-illiterate-population-65-years-both-sexes-number/mexico/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Elderly illiterate population, 65+ years, both sexes (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
120 places, 2,196 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Total number of adults over age 65 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life.