Qatar vs South Africa: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes

Qatar
93.5%
in 2017
South Africa
91.9%
in 2017
Qatar rank
27th
South Africa rank
28th

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes over time

  • Qatar
  • South Africa
020406080100199620062017

How they compare

Qatar currently reports 93.5% against 91.9% in South Africa, a difference of 1.6%.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 6 shared years of data; in 2009 it was South Africa ahead.

Qatar ranks 27th and South Africa ranks 28th of 39 countries.

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

Head to head by decade

Decade Qatar South Africa Difference Ahead
2000s 90.7% 96.5% 5.8% South Africa
2010s 91.5% 95.9% 4.4% South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes, Qatar or South Africa?
Qatar, at 93.5% against 91.9% in South Africa as of 2017.
What is the difference in literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes between Qatar and South Africa?
1.6%, with Qatar ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Qatar and South Africa?
6 years are reported by both, from 2009 to 2017.
How do Qatar and South Africa rank globally for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes?
Qatar ranks 27th and South Africa ranks 28th of 39 countries.
Where does this data come from?
UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes (%). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Qatar vs South Africa: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 12 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/compare/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-urban-both-sexes-percent/qatar/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
39 places, 366 data points, 1976–2019
Last refreshed

Percentage of the population in urban areas between age 25 and age 64 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 25-64 years 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/