What is the difference in youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes between Arab World and South Africa?

12.06 million number, with Arab World ahead.

How many years of comparable data are there for Arab World and South Africa?

10 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2017.

Where does this data come from?

UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes (number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Arab World vs South Africa: Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes

Arab World

12.53 million number

in 2019

South Africa

464,102 number

in 2017

Arab World rank

20th

South Africa rank

22nd

Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes over time

Arab World
South Africa

How they compare

Arab World currently reports 12.53 million number against 464,102 number in South Africa, a difference of 12.06 million number.

That makes Arab World's figure about 27.0 times South Africa's.

Across all 10 years both countries report, Arab World has been ahead every year.

Arab World ranks 20th and South Africa ranks 22nd of 39 groups.

Arab World has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Arab World	South Africa	Difference	Ahead
1980s	12.08 million number	814,989 number	11.26 million number	Arab World
1990s	11.61 million number	510,519 number	11.10 million number	Arab World
2000s	12.10 million number	213,724 number	11.89 million number	Arab World
2010s	11.03 million number	177,385 number	10.85 million number	Arab World

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes, Arab World or South Africa?: Arab World, at 12.53 million number against 464,102 number in South Africa as of 2019.
What is the difference in youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes between Arab World and South Africa?: 12.06 million number, with Arab World ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Arab World and South Africa?: 10 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2017.
How do Arab World and South Africa rank globally for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes?: Arab World ranks 20th and South Africa ranks 22nd of 39 groups.
Where does this data come from?: UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes (number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Arab World vs South Africa: Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/youth-illiterate-population-15-24-years-both-sexes-number/arab-world/south-africa/

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<a href="https://education.statizoid.com/compare/youth-illiterate-population-15-24-years-both-sexes-number/arab-world/south-africa/">Arab World vs South Africa: Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator: Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, both sexes (number)
Unit: number
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 125 places, 2,250 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed: 04 September 2026

Total number of youth between age 15 and age 24 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life.