Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Eswatini

Eswatini: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes was 55.9% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
55.9%
World rank
54th
of 83 countries
All-time high
55.9%
in 2018
All-time low
13.6%
in 1976
Years of data
5
1976–2018

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Eswatini, 1976–2018

1020304050601976199720181976: 13.6 %1986: 21.2 %2000: 36.7 %2010: 45.2 %2018: 55.9 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Eswatini is 55.9%, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 23.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Eswatini peaked at 55.9% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 13.6%, in 1976.

Eswatini ranks 54th of 83 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Eswatini, year by year

Annual values for Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%) in Eswatini, 1976 to 2018.
Year % Change
1976 13.6%
1986 21.2% +56.6%
2000 36.7% +72.7%
2010 45.2% +23.2%
2018 55.9% +23.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 13.6% 13.6% 13.6% 1
1980s 21.2% 21.2% 21.2% 1
2000s 36.7% 36.7% 36.7% 1
2010s 50.5% 45.2% 55.9% 2

Countries ranked near Eswatini

  1. 51 Lao People's Democratic Republic 58.6% compare
  2. 52 Sao Tome and Principe 58.4% compare
  3. 53 Oman 56.9% compare
  4. 55 South Africa 54.5% compare
  5. 56 Cambodia 53.1% compare
  6. 57 Vanuatu 50.9% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Eswatini

All data for Eswatini →

Frequently asked questions

What is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Eswatini?
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Eswatini was 55.9% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Eswatini?
The highest recorded value was 55.9% in 2018.
What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Eswatini?
The lowest recorded value was 13.6% in 1976.
How does Eswatini rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes?
Eswatini ranks 54th out of 83 countries with data for 2018.
Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Eswatini?
Over the last ten years it is up 23.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Eswatini data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Eswatini. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 22 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/elderly-literacy-rate-population-65-years-both-sexes-percent/eswatini/

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About this data

Indicator
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
122 places, 2,190 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Percentage of the population age 65 and above 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.