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

South Africa: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, male was 77.7% in 2017. ▲ Rising

Latest (2017)
77.7%
Change on year
down 12.5%
World rank
29th
of 38 countries
All-time high
88.9%
in 2015
All-time low
72.9%
in 1996
Years of data
8
1996–2017

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

0204060801996200620171996: 72.9 %2009: 86.8 %2010: 88.1 %2011: 86.9 %2012: 86.3 %2014: 88.3 %2015: 88.9 %2017: 77.7 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, male in South Africa is 77.7%, measured in 2017.

That represents a change of down 12.5% on the previous year and down 10.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, male in South Africa peaked at 88.9% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 72.9%, in 1996.

That places South Africa 29th out of 38 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the bottom quarter.

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

Annual values for Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, male (%) in South Africa, 1996 to 2017.
Year % Change
1996 72.9%
2009 86.8% +19.0%
2010 88.1% +1.5%
2011 86.9% -1.4%
2012 86.3% -0.6%
2014 88.3% +2.3%
2015 88.9% +0.7%
2017 77.7% -12.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 72.9% 72.9% 72.9% 1
2000s 86.8% 86.8% 86.8% 1
2010s 86.0% 77.7% 88.9% 6

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 26 Guatemala 79.5% compare
  2. 27 Qatar 79.5% compare
  3. 28 Honduras 78.3% compare
  4. 30 Uganda 68.2% compare
  5. 31 Bangladesh 66.5% compare
  6. 32 Iran, Islamic Republic of 61.5% 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, male in South Africa?
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, male in South Africa was 77.7% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, male recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 88.9% in 2015.
What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, male recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 72.9% in 1996.
How does South Africa rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, male?
South Africa ranks 29th out of 38 countries with data for 2017.
Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, male rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 10.5%. 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, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, male in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/elderly-literacy-rate-population-65-years-urban-male-percent/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, male (%)
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 males 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 male 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/