Illiterate population, 25-64 years, male in South Africa

South Africa: Illiterate population, 25-64 years, male was 1.65 million number in 2017. ▼ Falling

Latest (2017)
1.65 million number
Change on year
up 180.6%
World rank
11th
of 83 countries
All-time high
1.65 million number
in 2017
All-time low
586,823 number
in 2015
Years of data
10
1980–2017

Illiterate population, 25-64 years, male in South Africa, 1980–2017

0500.0k1.0M1.5M1980199820171980: 1.3M number1996: 1.4M number2007: 1.0M number2009: 669.4k number2010: 704.2k number2011: 697.0k number2012: 601.9k number2014: 590.4k number2015: 586.8k number2017: 1.6M number

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

The most recent figure for illiterate population, 25-64 years, male in South Africa is 1.65 million number, measured in 2017. That is the highest value across all 10 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 180.6% on the previous year and up 62.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, illiterate population, 25-64 years, male in South Africa peaked at 1.65 million number in 2017 and was at its lowest, 586,823 number, in 2015.

That places South Africa 11th out of 83 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 10 years of available data.

Illiterate population, 25-64 years, male in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Illiterate population, 25-64 years, male (number) in South Africa, 1980 to 2017.
Year number Change
1980 1.28 million number
1996 1.43 million number +11.6%
2007 1.01 million number -29.1%
2009 669,377 number -33.9%
2010 704,159 number +5.2%
2011 697,034 number -1.0%
2012 601,921 number -13.6%
2014 590,351 number -1.9%
2015 586,823 number -0.6%
2017 1.65 million number +180.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 1.28 million number 1.28 million number 1.28 million number 1
1990s 1.43 million number 1.43 million number 1.43 million number 1
2000s 841,358 number 669,377 number 1.01 million number 2
2010s 804,471 number 586,823 number 1.65 million number 6

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 8 Côte d'Ivoire 2.22 million number compare
  2. 9 Burkina Faso 1.75 million number compare
  3. 10 Iran, Islamic Republic of 1.70 million number compare
  4. 12 Mali 1.63 million number compare
  5. 13 Chad 1.53 million number compare
  6. 14 Morocco 1.51 million number compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is illiterate population, 25-64 years, male in South Africa?
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, male in South Africa was 1.65 million number in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest illiterate population, 25-64 years, male recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 1.65 million number in 2017.
What is the lowest illiterate population, 25-64 years, male recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 586,823 number in 2015.
How does South Africa rank for illiterate population, 25-64 years, male?
South Africa ranks 11th out of 83 countries with data for 2017.
Is illiterate population, 25-64 years, male rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 62.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Illiterate population, 25-64 years, male (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Illiterate population, 25-64 years, male in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 23 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/illiterate-population-25-64-years-male-number/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, male (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
122 places, 2,243 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Total number of males from age 25 to age 64 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life.