Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, male in South Africa
South Africa: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, male was 78.4% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, male in South Africa, 1996–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, male in South Africa is 78.4%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.0% on the previous year and down 11.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, male in South Africa peaked at 88.9% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 72.9%, in 1996.
That places South Africa 38th out of 57 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, male in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 72.9% | — |
| 2009 | 86.8% | +19.0% |
| 2010 | 88.1% | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 86.9% | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 86.3% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 88.3% | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 88.9% | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 73.5% | -17.2% |
| 2019 | 88.3% | +20.0% |
| 2021 | 80.8% | -8.4% |
| 2024 | 78.4% | -3.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 72.9% | 72.9% | 72.9% | 1 |
| 2000s | 86.8% | 86.8% | 86.8% | 1 |
| 2010s | 85.7% | 73.5% | 88.9% | 7 |
| 2020s | 79.6% | 78.4% | 80.8% | 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, male in South Africa?
- Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, male in South Africa was 78.4% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, male recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 88.9% in 2015.
- What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, male recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 72.9% in 1996.
- How does South Africa rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, male?
- South Africa ranks 38th out of 57 countries with data for 2024.
- Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, urban, male rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.2%. 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, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release