Youth/adult literacy rate in South Africa
South Africa: Youth/adult literacy rate was 97.2% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Latest (2024)
97.2%
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
43rd
of 68 countries
All-time high
99.0%
in 2015
All-time low
96.7%
in 2021
Years of data
11
2007–2024
Youth/adult literacy rate in South Africa, 2007–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 97.2% for youth/adult literacy rate in 2024.
That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and down 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth/adult literacy rate in South Africa peaked at 99.0% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 96.7%, in 2021.
That places South Africa 43rd out of 68 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Youth/adult literacy rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 97.6% | — |
| 2009 | 98.4% | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 98.6% | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 98.8% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 98.9% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 98.9% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 99.0% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 96.7% | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 98.4% | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 96.7% | -1.7% |
| 2024 | 97.2% | +0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 98.0% | 97.6% | 98.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 98.5% | 96.7% | 99.0% | 7 |
| 2020s | 96.9% | 96.7% | 97.2% | 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 youth/adult literacy rate in South Africa?
- Youth/adult literacy rate in South Africa was 97.2% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest youth/adult literacy rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 99.0% in 2015.
- What is the lowest youth/adult literacy rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 96.7% in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for youth/adult literacy rate?
- South Africa ranks 43rd out of 68 countries with data for 2024.
- Is youth/adult literacy rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Youth/adult literacy rate (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 11 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).