Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, female in South Africa

South Africa: Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, female was 153,207 number in 2017. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2017)
153,207 number
Change on year
up 300.3%
World rank
23rd
of 86 countries
All-time high
413,858 number
in 1980
All-time low
37,183 number
in 2012
Years of data
10
1980–2017

Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, female in South Africa, 1980–2017

0100.0k200.0k300.0k400.0k1980199820171980: 413.9k number1996: 238.2k number2007: 99.3k number2009: 61.5k number2010: 57.0k number2011: 43.6k number2012: 37.2k number2014: 45.8k number2015: 38.3k number2017: 153.2k number

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (http://uis.unesco.org/). Measured in number.

Analysis

In 2017, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, female in South Africa stood at 153,207 number.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 300.3% on the previous year and up 54.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, female in South Africa peaked at 413,858 number in 1980 and was at its lowest, 37,183 number, in 2012.

South Africa ranks 23rd of 86 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, female in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, female (number) in South Africa, 1980 to 2017.
Year number Change
1980 413,858 number
1996 238,172 number -42.5%
2007 99,306 number -58.3%
2009 61,523 number -38.0%
2010 56,950 number -7.4%
2011 43,601 number -23.4%
2012 37,183 number -14.7%
2014 45,840 number +23.3%
2015 38,272 number -16.5%
2017 153,207 number +300.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 413,858 number 413,858 number 413,858 number 1
1990s 238,172 number 238,172 number 238,172 number 1
2000s 80,414 number 61,523 number 99,306 number 2
2010s 62,509 number 37,183 number 153,207 number 6

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 20 Nepal 300,175 number compare
  2. 21 Iraq 290,538 number compare
  3. 22 China 175,985 number compare
  4. 24 Burundi 152,929 number compare
  5. 25 Zambia 151,649 number compare
  6. 26 Togo 151,538 number compare

See the full ranking of 125 places →

More education data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, female in South Africa?
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, female in South Africa was 153,207 number in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (http://uis.unesco.org/).
What is the highest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, female recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 413,858 number in 1980.
What is the lowest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, female recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 37,183 number in 2012.
How does South Africa rank for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, female?
South Africa ranks 23rd out of 86 countries with data for 2017.
Is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, female rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 54.3%. 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 (http://uis.unesco.org/), published as part of Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, female (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, female in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics (http://uis.unesco.org/). Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/youth-illiterate-population-15-24-years-female-number/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, female (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (http://uis.unesco.org/)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
125 places, 2,250 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Total number of females between age 15 and age 24 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life.