Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, adjusted gender in South Africa
South Africa: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, adjusted gender was 0.94 GPIA in 2024. ▬ Flat
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, adjusted gender in South Africa, 1996–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in GPIA.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 0.94 GPIA for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, adjusted gender in 2024.
That represents a change of up 8.0% on the previous year and down 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, adjusted gender in South Africa peaked at 1.18 GPIA in 2016 and was at its lowest, 0.87 GPIA, in 2021.
That places South Africa 22nd out of 57 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, adjusted gender in South Africa, year by year
| Year | GPIA | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 0.96 GPIA | — |
| 2009 | 0.94 GPIA | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 0.94 GPIA | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.94 GPIA | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.96 GPIA | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 0.95 GPIA | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 0.96 GPIA | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 1.18 GPIA | +22.9% |
| 2019 | 0.98 GPIA | -16.9% |
| 2021 | 0.87 GPIA | -11.2% |
| 2024 | 0.94 GPIA | +8.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.96 GPIA | 0.96 GPIA | 0.96 GPIA | 1 |
| 2000s | 0.94 GPIA | 0.94 GPIA | 0.94 GPIA | 1 |
| 2010s | 0.9871 GPIA | 0.94 GPIA | 1.18 GPIA | 7 |
| 2020s | 0.905 GPIA | 0.87 GPIA | 0.94 GPIA | 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, urban, adjusted gender in South Africa?
- Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, adjusted gender in South Africa was 0.94 GPIA in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, adjusted gender recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.18 GPIA in 2016.
- What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, adjusted gender recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.87 GPIA in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, adjusted gender?
- South Africa ranks 22nd out of 57 countries with data for 2024.
- Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, adjusted gender rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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, urban, adjusted gender parity index (GPIA). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release