Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in South Africa
South Africa: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 87.7% in 2017. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in South Africa, 1980–2017
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in South Africa is 87.7%, measured in 2017.
The figure is down 7.8% on the previous year and down 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 95.1% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 73.4%, in 1980.
South Africa ranks 51st of 83 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 10 years of available data.
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 73.4% | — |
| 1996 | 80.4% | +9.6% |
| 2007 | 89.0% | +10.6% |
| 2009 | 93.1% | +4.6% |
| 2010 | 93.0% | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 93.4% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 94.2% | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 94.8% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 95.1% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 87.7% | -7.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 73.4% | 73.4% | 73.4% | 1 |
| 1990s | 80.4% | 80.4% | 80.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 91.0% | 89.0% | 93.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 93.0% | 87.7% | 95.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More reference data data for South Africa
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7468 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 63.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.07 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in South Africa?
- Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in South Africa was 87.7% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 95.1% in 2015.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 73.4% in 1980.
- How does South Africa rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 51st out of 83 countries with data for 2017.
- Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.4%. 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 Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 10 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Percentage of the population between age 25 and age 64 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 25-64 years by the corresponding age group population and multiplying the result by 100.