Iran, Islamic Republic of vs South Africa: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes
Iran, Islamic Republic of
91.7%
in 2023
South Africa
92.6%
in 2024
Iran, Islamic Republic of rank
47th
South Africa rank
46th
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes over time
- Iran, Islamic Republic of
- South Africa
How they compare
South Africa currently reports 92.6% against 91.7% in Iran, Islamic Republic of, a difference of 0.9%.
Across all 10 years both countries report, South Africa has been ahead every year.
Iran, Islamic Republic of ranks 47th and South Africa ranks 46th of 87 countries.
South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Iran, Islamic Republic of | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 67.9% | 80.4% | 12.5% | South Africa |
| 2000s | 82.3% | 93.1% | 10.8% | South Africa |
| 2010s | 86.0% | 94.2% | 8.2% | South Africa |
| 2020s | 91.1% | 91.3% | 0.2% | South Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes, Iran, Islamic Republic of or South Africa?
- South Africa, at 92.6% against 91.7% in Iran, Islamic Republic of as of 2024.
- What is the difference in literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes between Iran, Islamic Republic of and South Africa?
- 0.9%, with South Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Iran, Islamic Republic of and South Africa?
- 10 years are reported by both, from 1996 to 2021.
- How do Iran, Islamic Republic of and South Africa rank globally for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
- Iran, Islamic Republic of ranks 47th and South Africa ranks 46th of 87 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Literacy rate, population 25-64 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