South Africa vs UIS: East Asia and the Pacific: Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes
South Africa
91.2%
in 2024
UIS: East Asia and the Pacific
96.6%
in 2024
South Africa rank
45th
UIS: East Asia and the Pacific rank
43rd
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes over time
- South Africa
- UIS: East Asia and the Pacific
How they compare
UIS: East Asia and the Pacific currently reports 96.6% against 91.2% in South Africa, a difference of 5.4%.
That makes UIS: East Asia and the Pacific's figure about 1.1 times South Africa's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 13 shared years of data; in 1980 it was South Africa ahead.
South Africa ranks 45th and UIS: East Asia and the Pacific ranks 43rd of 89 countries.
Across the 5 decades both report, South Africa averaged higher in 1 and UIS: East Asia and the Pacific in 4.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Africa | UIS: East Asia and the Pacific | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 76.2% | 69.6% | 6.6% | South Africa |
| 1990s | 82.4% | 84.3% | 1.9% | UIS: East Asia and the Pacific |
| 2000s | 90.8% | 93.8% | 3.0% | UIS: East Asia and the Pacific |
| 2010s | 93.6% | 95.0% | 1.4% | UIS: East Asia and the Pacific |
| 2020s | 90.6% | 96.4% | 5.8% | UIS: East Asia and the Pacific |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes, South Africa or UIS: East Asia and the Pacific?
- UIS: East Asia and the Pacific, at 96.6% against 91.2% in South Africa as of 2024.
- What is the difference in adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes between South Africa and UIS: East Asia and the Pacific?
- 5.4%, with UIS: East Asia and the Pacific ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and UIS: East Asia and the Pacific?
- 13 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2024.
- How do South Africa and UIS: East Asia and the Pacific rank globally for adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 45th and UIS: East Asia and the Pacific ranks 43rd of 89 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes (%). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
February 2026 Data Release