Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, both sexes in South Africa

South Africa: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, both sexes was 73.2% in 2017. ▲ Rising

Latest (2017)
73.2%
Change on year
down 15.8%
World rank
26th
of 40 countries
All-time high
86.9%
in 2015
All-time low
71.2%
in 1996
Years of data
8
1996–2017

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, both sexes in South Africa, 1996–2017

0204060801996200620171996: 71.2 %2009: 83.3 %2010: 84.9 %2011: 83.7 %2012: 84.4 %2014: 85.5 %2015: 86.9 %2017: 73.2 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2017, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, both sexes in South Africa stood at 73.2%.

That represents a change of down 15.8% on the previous year and down 12.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 86.9% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 71.2%, in 1996.

South Africa ranks 26th of 40 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, both sexes in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, both sexes (%) in South Africa, 1996 to 2017.
Year % Change
1996 71.2%
2009 83.3% +17.0%
2010 84.9% +1.9%
2011 83.7% -1.4%
2012 84.4% +0.8%
2014 85.5% +1.2%
2015 86.9% +1.7%
2017 73.2% -15.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 71.2% 71.2% 71.2% 1
2000s 83.3% 83.3% 83.3% 1
2010s 83.1% 73.2% 86.9% 6

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 23 Paraguay 78.3% compare
  2. 24 El Salvador 76.1% compare
  3. 25 Honduras 73.3% compare
  4. 27 Qatar 70.5% compare
  5. 28 Kuwait 67.8% compare
  6. 29 Cambodia 67.0% compare

See the full ranking of 40 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, both sexes in South Africa?
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, both sexes in South Africa was 73.2% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 86.9% in 2015.
What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 71.2% in 1996.
How does South Africa rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, both sexes?
South Africa ranks 26th out of 40 countries with data for 2017.
Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 12.1%. 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, urban, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, both sexes in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/elderly-literacy-rate-population-65-years-urban-both-sexes-percent/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
40 places, 370 data points, 1976–2019
Last refreshed

Percentage of the population age 65 and above in urban areas 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. For more information, consult the UNESCO Institute of Statistics website: http://www.uis.unesco.org/Education/