Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in South Africa
South Africa: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes was 4.17 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in South Africa, 1996–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in South Africa stood at 4.17 million.
The figure is down 6.8% on the previous year and up 80.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 4.93 million in 1996 and was at its lowest, 2.13 million, in 2019.
South Africa ranks 16th of 59 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 4.93 million | — |
| 2007 | 3.93 million | -20.2% |
| 2009 | 2.57 million | -34.5% |
| 2010 | 2.62 million | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 2.58 million | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 2.38 million | -7.6% |
| 2014 | 2.31 million | -2.9% |
| 2015 | 2.27 million | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 2.13 million | -6.0% |
| 2021 | 4.47 million | +109.9% |
| 2024 | 4.17 million | -6.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.93 million | 4.93 million | 4.93 million | 1 |
| 2000s | 3.25 million | 2.57 million | 3.93 million | 2 |
| 2010s | 2.38 million | 2.13 million | 2.62 million | 6 |
| 2020s | 4.32 million | 4.17 million | 4.47 million | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 181,739 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 339,638 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 410,708 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 407,696 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 5.50 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 7.52 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.119 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in South Africa?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes in South Africa was 4.17 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4.93 million in 1996.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.13 million in 2019.
- How does South Africa rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 16th out of 59 countries with data for 2024.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 80.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 11 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release