Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, male in South Africa

South Africa: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, male was 77.5% in 2017. ▲ Rising

Latest (2017)
77.5%
Change on year
down 13.7%
World rank
26th
of 35 countries
All-time high
90.0%
in 2014
All-time low
68.2%
in 1996
Years of data
8
1996–2017

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, male in South Africa, 1996–2017

0204060801001996200620171996: 68.2 %2009: 87 %2010: 87.3 %2011: 87.4 %2012: 88.7 %2014: 90 %2015: 89.7 %2017: 77.5 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2017, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, male in South Africa stood at 77.5%.

The figure is down 13.7% on the previous year and down 10.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, male in South Africa peaked at 90.0% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 68.2%, in 1996.

That places South Africa 26th out of 35 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the middle of the range.

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, male in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, male (%) in South Africa, 1996 to 2017.
Year % Change
1996 68.2%
2009 87.0% +27.5%
2010 87.3% +0.3%
2011 87.4% +0.2%
2012 88.7% +1.5%
2014 90.0% +1.5%
2015 89.7% -0.3%
2017 77.5% -13.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 68.2% 68.2% 68.2% 1
2000s 87.0% 87.0% 87.0% 1
2010s 86.8% 77.5% 90.0% 6

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 23 Cambodia 81.0% compare
  2. 24 Brazil 80.8% compare
  3. 25 Honduras 77.6% compare
  4. 27 Guatemala 75.7% compare
  5. 28 Uganda 72.0% compare
  6. 29 Egypt 67.9% compare

See the full ranking of 35 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, male in South Africa?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, male in South Africa was 77.5% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, male recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 90.0% in 2014.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, male recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 68.2% in 1996.
How does South Africa rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, male?
South Africa ranks 26th out of 35 countries with data for 2017.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, male rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 10.9%. 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, rural, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, male in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-rural-male-percent/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, male (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
35 places, 326 data points, 1976–2019
Last refreshed

Percentage of the male population in rural areas 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 male literates aged 25-64 years 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/