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

South Africa: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, female was 70.2% in 2017. ▲ Rising

Latest (2017)
70.2%
Change on year
down 18.0%
World rank
22nd
of 38 countries
All-time high
85.7%
in 2015
All-time low
70.1%
in 1996
Years of data
8
1996–2017

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

0204060801996200620171996: 70.1 %2009: 81.2 %2010: 83 %2011: 81.8 %2012: 83.3 %2014: 83.8 %2015: 85.7 %2017: 70.2 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, female in South Africa is 70.2%, measured in 2017.

The figure is down 18.0% on the previous year and down 13.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, female in South Africa peaked at 85.7% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 70.1%, in 1996.

South Africa ranks 22nd of 38 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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

Annual values for Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, female (%) in South Africa, 1996 to 2017.
Year % Change
1996 70.1%
2009 81.2% +15.9%
2010 83.0% +2.2%
2011 81.8% -1.4%
2012 83.3% +1.8%
2014 83.8% +0.6%
2015 85.7% +2.3%
2017 70.2% -18.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 70.1% 70.1% 70.1% 1
2000s 81.2% 81.2% 81.2% 1
2010s 81.3% 70.2% 85.7% 6

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 19 El Salvador 71.4% compare
  2. 20 Malaysia 70.8% compare
  3. 21 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 70.3% compare
  4. 23 Honduras 69.8% compare
  5. 24 Türkiye 69.4% compare
  6. 25 Palestine, State of 59.6% compare

See the full ranking of 38 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, female in South Africa?
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, female in South Africa was 70.2% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, female recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 85.7% in 2015.
What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, female recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 70.1% in 1996.
How does South Africa rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, female?
South Africa ranks 22nd out of 38 countries with data for 2017.
Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, female rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 13.5%. 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, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, female in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/elderly-literacy-rate-population-65-years-urban-female-percent/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, female (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
38 places, 360 data points, 1976–2019
Last refreshed

Percentage of females 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 female 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/