Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female in South Africa
South Africa: Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female was 53.5% in 2017. ▲ Rising
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female in South Africa, 1980–2017
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2017, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female in South Africa stood at 53.5%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 10.7% on the previous year and down 9.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female in South Africa peaked at 60.6% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 53.4%, in 1980.
That places South Africa 65th out of 87 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 10 years of available data.
Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 53.4% | — |
| 1996 | 55.8% | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 59.4% | +6.5% |
| 2009 | 59.5% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 59.7% | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 59.1% | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 60.6% | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 60.6% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 60.0% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 53.5% | -10.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 53.4% | 53.4% | 53.4% | 1 |
| 1990s | 55.8% | 55.8% | 55.8% | 1 |
| 2000s | 59.4% | 59.4% | 59.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 58.9% | 53.5% | 60.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 62 Côte d'Ivoire 55.6% compare
- 63 Madagascar 55.4% compare
- 64 Bangladesh 55.0% compare
- 66 Paraguay 53.4% compare
- 67 Vanuatu 53.2% compare
- 68 Namibia 53.0% compare
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, % female in South Africa?
- Adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female in South Africa was 53.5% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 60.6% in 2012.
- What is the lowest adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 53.4% in 1980.
- How does South Africa rank for adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female?
- South Africa ranks 65th out of 87 countries with data for 2017.
- Is adult illiterate population, 15+ years, % female rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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, % female. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the adult illiterate population (age 15+) that is female.