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

South Africa: Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, male was 310,894 number in 2017. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2017)
310,894 number
Change on year
up 368.1%
World rank
18th
of 86 countries
All-time high
401,131 number
in 1980
All-time low
66,422 number
in 2015
Years of data
10
1980–2017

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

100.0k200.0k300.0k400.0k1980199820171980: 401.1k number1996: 272.3k number2007: 156.4k number2009: 110.2k number2010: 84.8k number2011: 82.0k number2012: 77.9k number2014: 67.1k number2015: 66.4k number2017: 310.9k number

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

The most recent figure for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, male in South Africa is 310,894 number, measured in 2017.

The figure is up 368.1% on the previous year and up 98.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, male in South Africa peaked at 401,131 number in 1980 and was at its lowest, 66,422 number, in 2015.

South Africa ranks 18th of 86 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

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

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

Annual values for Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, male (number) in South Africa, 1980 to 2017.
Year number Change
1980 401,131 number
1996 272,347 number -32.1%
2007 156,393 number -42.6%
2009 110,227 number -29.5%
2010 84,845 number -23.0%
2011 82,015 number -3.3%
2012 77,936 number -5.0%
2014 67,143 number -13.8%
2015 66,422 number -1.1%
2017 310,894 number +368.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 401,131 number 401,131 number 401,131 number 1
1990s 272,347 number 272,347 number 272,347 number 1
2000s 133,310 number 110,227 number 156,393 number 2
2010s 114,876 number 66,422 number 310,894 number 6

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 15 Malawi 471,139 number compare
  2. 16 Senegal 369,919 number compare
  3. 17 Benin 348,288 number compare
  4. 19 Cameroon 307,850 number compare
  5. 20 Central African Republic 263,922 number compare
  6. 21 China 199,329 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, male in South Africa?
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, male in South Africa was 310,894 number in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, male recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 401,131 number in 1980.
What is the lowest youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, male recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 66,422 number in 2015.
How does South Africa rank for youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, male?
South Africa ranks 18th out of 86 countries with data for 2017.
Is youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, male rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 98.8%. 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 Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, male (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, male in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/youth-illiterate-population-15-24-years-male-number/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Youth illiterate population, 15-24 years, male (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
125 places, 2,252 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

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