Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, female in South Africa
South Africa: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, female was 51.2% in 2017. ▲ Rising
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, female in South Africa, 1980–2017
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, female in South Africa is 51.2%, measured in 2017.
The figure is down 25.5% on the previous year and down 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, female in South Africa peaked at 68.7% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 47.1%, in 1996.
South Africa ranks 51st of 82 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, female in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 55.4% | — |
| 1996 | 47.1% | -15.1% |
| 2007 | 51.4% | +9.2% |
| 2009 | 64.3% | +25.2% |
| 2010 | 63.3% | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 64.3% | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 65.6% | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 67.3% | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 68.7% | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 51.2% | -25.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 55.4% | 55.4% | 55.4% | 1 |
| 1990s | 47.1% | 47.1% | 47.1% | 1 |
| 2000s | 57.8% | 51.4% | 64.3% | 2 |
| 2010s | 63.4% | 51.2% | 68.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 48 Qatar 54.3% compare
- 49 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 54.0% compare
- 50 Eswatini 52.3% compare
- 52 Zambia 46.9% compare
- 53 Saudi Arabia 46.3% compare
- 54 Lao People's Democratic Republic 44.7% compare
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, female in South Africa?
- Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, female in South Africa was 51.2% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, female recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 68.7% in 2015.
- What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, female recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.1% in 1996.
- How does South Africa rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, female?
- South Africa ranks 51st out of 82 countries with data for 2017.
- Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, female rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.3%. 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, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of females 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 female literates aged 65 years and over by the corresponding age group population and multiplying the result by 100.