Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, male, adjusted location in South Africa
South Africa: Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, male, adjusted location was 0.99 LPIA in 2024. ▬ Flat
Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, male, adjusted location in South Africa, 1996–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in LPIA.
Analysis
In 2024, youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, male, adjusted location in South Africa stood at 0.99 LPIA. That is the highest value across all 11 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.1% on the previous year and unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, male, adjusted location in South Africa peaked at 0.99 LPIA in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0.94 LPIA, in 1996.
That places South Africa 23rd out of 54 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, male, adjusted location in South Africa, year by year
| Year | LPIA | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 0.94 LPIA | — |
| 2009 | 0.98 LPIA | +4.3% |
| 2010 | 0.99 LPIA | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 0.99 LPIA | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.98 LPIA | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 0.99 LPIA | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 0.99 LPIA | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.97 LPIA | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 0.99 LPIA | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 0.97 LPIA | -2.0% |
| 2024 | 0.99 LPIA | +2.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.99 LPIA is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1 LPIA, 99% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.99 LPIA is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.835 LPIA, 1.2× the median. (12 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.94 LPIA | 0.94 LPIA | 0.94 LPIA | 1 |
| 2000s | 0.98 LPIA | 0.98 LPIA | 0.98 LPIA | 1 |
| 2010s | 0.9857 LPIA | 0.97 LPIA | 0.99 LPIA | 7 |
| 2020s | 0.98 LPIA | 0.97 LPIA | 0.99 LPIA | 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 literacy rate, population 15-24 years, male, adjusted location in South Africa?
- Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, male, adjusted location in South Africa was 0.99 LPIA in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, male, adjusted location recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.99 LPIA in 2010.
- What is the lowest youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, male, adjusted location recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.94 LPIA in 1996.
- How does South Africa rank for youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, male, adjusted location?
- South Africa ranks 23rd out of 54 countries with data for 2024.
- Is youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, male, adjusted location rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. 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, published as part of Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, male, adjusted location parity index (LPIA). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release