What is the difference in illiterate population, 25-64 years, female between Arab World and South Africa?

30.76 million number, with Arab World ahead.

How many years of comparable data are there for Arab World and South Africa?

10 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2017.

Where does this data come from?

UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Illiterate population, 25-64 years, female (number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Arab World vs South Africa: Illiterate population, 25-64 years, female

Arab World

32.50 million number

in 2019

South Africa

1.74 million number

in 2017

Arab World rank

19th

South Africa rank

22nd

Illiterate population, 25-64 years, female over time

Arab World
South Africa

How they compare

Arab World currently reports 32.50 million number against 1.74 million number in South Africa, a difference of 30.76 million number.

That makes Arab World's figure about 18.6 times South Africa's.

Across all 10 years both countries report, Arab World has been ahead every year.

Arab World ranks 19th and South Africa ranks 22nd of 38 groups.

Arab World has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Arab World	South Africa	Difference	Ahead
1980s	20.44 million number	1.46 million number	18.97 million number	Arab World
1990s	27.27 million number	1.80 million number	25.48 million number	Arab World
2000s	30.16 million number	1.11 million number	29.05 million number	Arab World
2010s	30.66 million number	961,334 number	29.69 million number	Arab World

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher illiterate population, 25-64 years, female, Arab World or South Africa?: Arab World, at 32.50 million number against 1.74 million number in South Africa as of 2019.
What is the difference in illiterate population, 25-64 years, female between Arab World and South Africa?: 30.76 million number, with Arab World ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Arab World and South Africa?: 10 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2017.
How do Arab World and South Africa rank globally for illiterate population, 25-64 years, female?: Arab World ranks 19th and South Africa ranks 22nd of 38 groups.
Where does this data come from?: UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Illiterate population, 25-64 years, female (number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Arab World vs South Africa: Illiterate population, 25-64 years, female. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 27 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/compare/illiterate-population-25-64-years-female-number/arab-world/south-africa/

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<a href="https://reference.statizoid.com/compare/illiterate-population-25-64-years-female-number/arab-world/south-africa/">Arab World vs South Africa: Illiterate population, 25-64 years, female</a> — Statizoid

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: 21 August 2026

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.