South Africa vs WB: East Asia & Pacific: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes
South Africa
92.6%
in 2024
WB: East Asia & Pacific
97.8%
in 2024
South Africa rank
46th
WB: East Asia & Pacific rank
43rd
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes over time
- South Africa
- WB: East Asia & Pacific
How they compare
WB: East Asia & Pacific currently reports 97.8% against 92.6% in South Africa, a difference of 5.2%.
That makes WB: East Asia & 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 46th and WB: East Asia & Pacific ranks 43rd of 87 countries.
Across the 5 decades both report, South Africa averaged higher in 1 and WB: East Asia & Pacific in 4.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Africa | WB: East Asia & Pacific | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 73.4% | 65.7% | 7.7% | South Africa |
| 1990s | 80.4% | 84.9% | 4.5% | WB: East Asia & Pacific |
| 2000s | 91.0% | 95.4% | 4.3% | WB: East Asia & Pacific |
| 2010s | 94.2% | 96.4% | 2.2% | WB: East Asia & Pacific |
| 2020s | 91.9% | 97.7% | 5.7% | WB: East Asia & Pacific |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes, South Africa or WB: East Asia & Pacific?
- WB: East Asia & Pacific, at 97.8% against 92.6% in South Africa as of 2024.
- What is the difference in literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes between South Africa and WB: East Asia & Pacific?
- 5.2%, with WB: East Asia & Pacific ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and WB: East Asia & Pacific?
- 13 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2024.
- How do South Africa and WB: East Asia & Pacific rank globally for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 46th and WB: East Asia & Pacific ranks 43rd 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