Pakistan vs South Africa: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes

Pakistan
19.8%
in 2017
South Africa
23.7%
in 2017
Pakistan rank
31st
South Africa rank
29th

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes over time

  • Pakistan
  • South Africa
1020304050198119992017

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 23.7% against 19.8% in Pakistan, a difference of 3.9%.

That makes South Africa's figure about 1.2 times Pakistan's.

Across all 6 years both countries report, South Africa has been ahead every year.

Pakistan ranks 31st and South Africa ranks 29th of 37 countries.

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

Head to head by decade

Decade Pakistan South Africa Difference Ahead
2000s 18.1% 47.2% 29.1% South Africa
2010s 18.3% 41.0% 22.7% South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes, Pakistan or South Africa?
South Africa, at 23.7% against 19.8% in Pakistan as of 2017.
What is the difference in elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes between Pakistan and South Africa?
3.9%, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Pakistan and South Africa?
6 years are reported by both, from 2009 to 2017.
How do Pakistan and South Africa rank globally for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes?
Pakistan ranks 31st and South Africa ranks 29th of 37 countries.
Where does this data come from?
UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes (%). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Pakistan vs South Africa: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/compare/elderly-literacy-rate-population-65-years-rural-both-sexes-percent/pakistan/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
37 places, 335 data points, 1976–2019
Last refreshed

Percentage of the population age 65 and above in rural areas who can, with understanding, read and write a short, simple statement on their everyday life. Generally, ‘literacy’ also encompasses ‘numeracy’, the ability to make simple arithmetic calculations. This indicator is calculated by dividing the number of literates aged 65 years and over by the corresponding age group population and multiplying the result by 100. For more information, consult the UNESCO Institute of Statistics website: http://www.uis.unesco.org/Education/