Adult Literacy Rate in South Africa
South Africa: Adult Literacy Rate was 91.15 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Adult Literacy Rate in South Africa, 1980–2024
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
In 2024, adult literacy rate in South Africa stood at 91.15.
That represents a change of up 1.3% on the previous year and down 3.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult literacy rate in South Africa peaked at 95.02 in 2019 and was at its lowest, 76.2, in 1980.
That places South Africa 54th out of 110 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.
Adult Literacy Rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 76.2 | — |
| 1996 | 82.4 | +8.1% |
| 2007 | 88.72 | +7.7% |
| 2009 | 92.89 | +4.7% |
| 2010 | 92.88 | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 93.1 | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 93.73 | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 94.14 | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 94.37 | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 91.74 | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 87 | -5.2% |
| 2019 | 95.02 | +9.2% |
| 2021 | 90 | -5.3% |
| 2024 | 91.15 | +1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 76.2 | 76.2 | 76.2 | 1 |
| 1990s | 82.4 | 82.4 | 82.4 | 1 |
| 2000s | 90.81 | 88.72 | 92.89 | 2 |
| 2010s | 92.75 | 87 | 95.02 | 8 |
| 2020s | 90.58 | 90 | 91.15 | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More gender data for South Africa
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 17,151 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 0.6591 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 570,099 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 589,533 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 570,599 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 589,626 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 569,634 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 588,323 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 594,743 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 603,304 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult literacy rate in South Africa?
- Adult literacy rate in South Africa was 91.15 in 2024, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest adult literacy rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 95.02 in 2019.
- What is the lowest adult literacy rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 76.2 in 1980.
- How does South Africa rank for adult literacy rate?
- South Africa ranks 54th out of 110 countries with data for 2024.
- Is adult literacy rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Adult Literacy Rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 14 observations, free to reuse under IMF Terms and Conditions (attribution required).
About this data
Gender-disaggregated data on educational outcomes.