Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in South Africa
South Africa: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes was 54.5% in 2017. ▲ Rising
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in South Africa, 1980–2017
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 54.5% for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in 2017.
That represents a change of down 24.4% on the previous year and down 3.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 72.1% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 49.1%, in 1996.
South Africa ranks 55th of 83 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 10 years of available data.
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 57.0% | — |
| 1996 | 49.1% | -13.9% |
| 2007 | 56.3% | +14.9% |
| 2009 | 67.9% | +20.5% |
| 2010 | 67.2% | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 67.7% | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 69.1% | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 70.9% | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 72.1% | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 54.5% | -24.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 57.0% | 57.0% | 57.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 49.1% | 49.1% | 49.1% | 1 |
| 2000s | 62.1% | 56.3% | 67.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 66.9% | 54.5% | 72.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More reference data data for South Africa
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7468 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 63.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.07 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in South Africa?
- Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in South Africa was 54.5% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 72.1% in 2015.
- What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 49.1% in 1996.
- How does South Africa rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 55th out of 83 countries with data for 2017.
- Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 10 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
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.