Illiterate youth population, 15-24 years, urban, male in South Africa
South Africa: Illiterate youth population, 15-24 years, urban, male was 106,401 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Illiterate youth population, 15-24 years, urban, male in South Africa, 1996–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, illiterate youth population, 15-24 years, urban, male in South Africa stood at 106,401. That is the highest value across all 10 years on record.
That represents a change of up 15.5% on the previous year and up 295.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, illiterate youth population, 15-24 years, urban, male in South Africa peaked at 106,401 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 21,154, in 2015.
That places South Africa 8th out of 42 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Illiterate youth population, 15-24 years, urban, male in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 81,457 | — |
| 2009 | 40,740 | -50.0% |
| 2010 | 32,672 | -19.8% |
| 2011 | 38,654 | +18.3% |
| 2012 | 25,957 | -32.8% |
| 2014 | 26,904 | +3.6% |
| 2015 | 21,154 | -21.4% |
| 2019 | 54,140 | +155.9% |
| 2021 | 92,088 | +70.1% |
| 2024 | 106,401 | +15.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 81,457 | 81,457 | 81,457 | 1 |
| 2000s | 40,740 | 40,740 | 40,740 | 1 |
| 2010s | 33,247 | 21,154 | 54,140 | 6 |
| 2020s | 99,244 | 92,088 | 106,401 | 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 illiterate youth population, 15-24 years, urban, male in South Africa?
- Illiterate youth population, 15-24 years, urban, male in South Africa was 106,401 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest illiterate youth population, 15-24 years, urban, male recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 106,401 in 2024.
- What is the lowest illiterate youth population, 15-24 years, urban, male recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 21,154 in 2015.
- How does South Africa rank for illiterate youth population, 15-24 years, urban, male?
- South Africa ranks 8th out of 42 countries with data for 2024.
- Is illiterate youth population, 15-24 years, urban, male rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 295.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Illiterate youth population, 15-24 years, urban, male (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 10 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release