Literacy levels among young people, adjusted gender parity index in South Africa
South Africa: Literacy levels among young people, adjusted gender parity index was 1.02 index in 2024. ▬ Flat
Literacy levels among young people, adjusted gender parity index in South Africa, 1980–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in index.
Analysis
In 2024, literacy levels among young people, adjusted gender parity index in South Africa stood at 1.02 index. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy levels among young people, adjusted gender parity index in South Africa peaked at 1.02 index in 2016 and was at its lowest, 1 index, in 1980.
South Africa ranks 7th of 96 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Literacy levels among young people, adjusted gender parity index in South Africa, year by year
| Year | index | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1 index | — |
| 1996 | 1.01 index | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 1.01 index | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 1.01 index | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 1.01 index | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 1.01 index | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 1.01 index | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 1 index | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 1.01 index | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 1.02 index | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 1.01 index | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 1.02 index | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 1.02 index | +0.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.02 index is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1 index, 1.0× the median. (36 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.02 index is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.945 index, 1.1× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1 index | 1 index | 1 index | 1 |
| 1990s | 1.01 index | 1.01 index | 1.01 index | 1 |
| 2000s | 1.01 index | 1.01 index | 1.01 index | 2 |
| 2010s | 1.01 index | 1 index | 1.02 index | 7 |
| 2020s | 1.02 index | 1.02 index | 1.02 index | 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 literacy levels among young people, adjusted gender parity index in South Africa?
- Literacy levels among young people, adjusted gender parity index in South Africa was 1.02 index in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy levels among young people, adjusted gender parity index recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.02 index in 2016.
- What is the lowest literacy levels among young people, adjusted gender parity index recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1 index in 1980.
- How does South Africa rank for literacy levels among young people, adjusted gender parity index?
- South Africa ranks 7th out of 96 countries with data for 2024.
- Is literacy levels among young people, adjusted gender parity index rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.0%. 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 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Literacy levels among young people, adjusted gender parity index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
An adjusted gender parity index of 1 indicates equal basic literacy rates among young men and women aged 15–24. Values below 1 favor young men, and above 1 favor young women.