Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes in South Africa
South Africa: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes was 35.7% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes in South Africa, 1996–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes in South Africa is 35.7%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 13.4% on the previous year and down 25.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 56.9% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 27.4%, in 1996.
South Africa ranks 37th of 53 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 27.4% | — |
| 2009 | 47.2% | +72.3% |
| 2010 | 42.5% | -10.1% |
| 2011 | 44.1% | +3.9% |
| 2012 | 47.1% | +6.7% |
| 2014 | 47.9% | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 48.2% | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 49.7% | +3.2% |
| 2019 | 56.9% | +14.4% |
| 2021 | 31.5% | -44.7% |
| 2024 | 35.7% | +13.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 35.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 68.8%, 52% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 35.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18.2%, 2.0× the median. (12 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 27.4% | 27.4% | 27.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 47.2% | 47.2% | 47.2% | 1 |
| 2010s | 48.0% | 42.5% | 56.9% | 7 |
| 2020s | 33.6% | 31.5% | 35.7% | 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, rural, both sexes in South Africa?
- Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes in South Africa was 35.7% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 56.9% in 2019.
- What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.4% in 1996.
- How does South Africa rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 37th out of 53 countries with data for 2024.
- Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.5%. 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, rural, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release