Cross country literacy rates in South Africa
South Africa: Cross country literacy rates was 91.15 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Cross country literacy rates in South Africa, 1950–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, cross country literacy rates in South Africa stood at 91.15.
The figure is up 1.3% on the previous year and down 3.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cross country literacy rates in South Africa peaked at 95.02 in 2019 and was at its lowest, 42.5, in 1950.
That places South Africa 71st out of 128 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.
Cross country literacy rates in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 42.5 | — |
| 1980 | 76.2 | +79.3% |
| 1996 | 82.4 | +8.1% |
| 2007 | 88.72 | +7.7% |
| 2009 | 92.89 | +4.7% |
| 2010 | 92.88 | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 93.1 | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 93.73 | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 94.14 | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 94.37 | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 91.74 | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 95.02 | +3.6% |
| 2021 | 90 | -5.3% |
| 2024 | 91.15 | +1.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 91.15 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 95.44, 96% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 91.15 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70.87, 1.3× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cross country literacy rates in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | +79.3% | 42.5 | 76.2 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 42.5 | 42.5 | 42.5 | 1 |
| 1980s | 76.2 | 76.2 | 76.2 | 1 |
| 1990s | 82.4 | 82.4 | 82.4 | 1 |
| 2000s | 90.81 | 88.72 | 92.89 | 2 |
| 2010s | 93.57 | 91.74 | 95.02 | 7 |
| 2020s | 90.58 | 90 | 91.15 | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 94.05 (2023)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 93.94 (2023)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cross country literacy rates in South Africa?
- Cross country literacy rates in South Africa was 91.15 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest cross country literacy rates recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 95.02 in 2019.
- What is the lowest cross country literacy rates recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 42.5 in 1950.
- How does South Africa rank for cross country literacy rates?
- South Africa ranks 71st out of 128 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cross country literacy rates rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Cross country literacy rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 14 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).