Illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female in South Africa

South Africa: Illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female was 51.5% in 2017. ▬ Flat

Latest (2017)
51.5%
Change on year
down 6.1%
World rank
60th
of 83 countries
All-time high
57.2%
in 2012
All-time low
51.5%
in 2017
Years of data
10
1980–2017

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

02040601980199820171980: 53.41996: 55.72007: 56.92009: 56.92010: 56.22011: 55.42012: 57.22014: 55.62015: 54.82017: 51.5

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 51.5% for illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female in 2017. That is the lowest value across all 10 years on record.

The figure is down 6.1% on the previous year and down 9.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female in South Africa peaked at 57.2% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 51.5%, in 2017.

That places South Africa 60th out of 83 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the middle of the range.

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

Annual values for Illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female in South Africa, 1980 to 2017.
Year Value Change
1980 53.4%
1996 55.7% +4.4%
2007 56.9% +2.1%
2009 56.9% +0.0%
2010 56.2% -1.4%
2011 55.4% -1.4%
2012 57.2% +3.3%
2014 55.6% -2.8%
2015 54.8% -1.5%
2017 51.5% -6.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 53.4% 53.4% 53.4% 1
1990s 55.7% 55.7% 55.7% 1
2000s 56.9% 56.9% 56.9% 2
2010s 55.1% 51.5% 57.2% 6

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 57 Paraguay 52.5% compare
  2. 58 Barbados 52.0% compare
  3. 59 Oman 52.0% compare
  4. 61 Spain 51.4% compare
  5. 62 Namibia 51.4% compare
  6. 63 Republic of Moldova 50.8% 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, % female in South Africa?
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female in South Africa was 51.5% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 57.2% in 2012.
What is the lowest illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 51.5% in 2017.
How does South Africa rank for illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female?
South Africa ranks 60th out of 83 countries with data for 2017.
Is illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 9.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
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, % female. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/illiterate-population-25-64-years-percent-female/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Illiterate population, 25-64 years, % female
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
122 places, 2,239 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Share of the adult illiterate population (age 25-64) that is female.