Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in South Africa
South Africa: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes was 61.9% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in South Africa, 1980–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 61.9% for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in 2024.
The figure is up 4.6% on the previous year and down 12.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 76.3% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 49.0%, in 1996.
South Africa ranks 48th of 85 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 57.0% | — |
| 1996 | 49.0% | -13.9% |
| 2007 | 56.3% | +14.9% |
| 2009 | 67.9% | +20.5% |
| 2010 | 67.2% | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 67.7% | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 69.2% | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 70.9% | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 72.1% | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 69.2% | -4.1% |
| 2019 | 76.3% | +10.4% |
| 2021 | 59.1% | -22.5% |
| 2024 | 61.9% | +4.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 57.0% | 57.0% | 57.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 49.0% | 49.0% | 49.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 62.1% | 56.3% | 67.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 70.4% | 67.2% | 76.3% | 7 |
| 2020s | 60.5% | 59.1% | 61.9% | 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 elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in South Africa?
- Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in South Africa was 61.9% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 76.3% in 2019.
- What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 49.0% in 1996.
- How does South Africa rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 48th out of 85 countries with data for 2024.
- Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.7%. 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 Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 13 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release