Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in South Africa
South Africa: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 92.6% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in South Africa, 1980–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in South Africa stood at 92.6%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.5% on the previous year and down 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 96.0% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 73.4%, in 1980.
South Africa ranks 46th of 87 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.
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 73.4% | — |
| 1996 | 80.4% | +9.6% |
| 2007 | 89.0% | +10.6% |
| 2009 | 93.1% | +4.6% |
| 2010 | 93.0% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 93.4% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 94.2% | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 94.8% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 95.1% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 93.0% | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 96.0% | +3.3% |
| 2021 | 91.3% | -4.9% |
| 2024 | 92.6% | +1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 73.4% | 73.4% | 73.4% | 1 |
| 1990s | 80.4% | 80.4% | 80.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 91.0% | 89.0% | 93.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 94.2% | 93.0% | 96.0% | 7 |
| 2020s | 91.9% | 91.3% | 92.6% | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 43 Sri Lanka 94.3% compare
- 44 Myanmar 94.2% compare
- 45 Thailand 93.1% compare
- 47 Iran, Islamic Republic of 91.7% compare
- 48 El Salvador 91.2% compare
- 49 Cape Verde 91.2% compare
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 literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in South Africa?
- Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in South Africa was 92.6% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 96.0% in 2019.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 73.4% in 1980.
- How does South Africa rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 46th out of 87 countries with data for 2024.
- Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.4%. 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 Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release