Dataset

This dataset was created by Pavan Sanagapati

Released under CC0: Public Domain

Contents

The literacy rate among females in Cabo Verde reached 82 percent. Cabo Verde represented the West African country in which the literacy rate among women aged 15 years and over was the highest. On the contrary, the literacy rate in Chad equaled to 14 percent of female adults, the lowest figure in West Africa.

In 2023, the youth literacy rate (people aged 15-24) in Sub-Saharan Africa remained nearly unchanged at around ***** percent. Nevertheless, 2023 still represents a peak in the youth literacy rate in Sub-Saharan Africa. The youth literacy rate refers to the share of individuals between the ages of 15 and 24 and who can read and write as well as understand simple expressions about their daily lives.

The average for 2021 based on 13 countries was 75.38 percent. The highest value was in Mauritius: 99.58 percent and the lowest value was in Guinea: 49.09 percent. The indicator is available from 1970 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Graph and download economic data for Literacy Rate, Adult Total for Developing Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SEADTLITRZSSSA) from 1985 to 2024 about Sub-Saharan Africa, literacy, adult, and rate.

South Africa ZA: Literacy Rate: Adult: % of People Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 94.368 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 94.140 % for 2014. South Africa ZA: Literacy Rate: Adult: % of People Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 92.895 % from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2015, with 9 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 94.368 % in 2015 and a record low of 76.200 % in 1980. South Africa ZA: Literacy Rate: Adult: % of People Aged 15 and Above data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.World Bank: Education Statistics. Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

The youth literacy rate (people aged 15-24) in South Africa amounted to ** percent in 2021. Between 1980 and 2021, the youth literacy rate rose by ** percentage points, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend.

Historical dataset showing Africa literacy rate by year from N/A to N/A.

The average for 2021 based on 13 countries was 81.92 percent. The highest value was in Mauritius: 99.04 percent and the lowest value was in Burkina Faso: 66.65 percent. The indicator is available from 1970 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Graph and download economic data for Literacy Rate, Adult Total: All Income Levels for Sub-Saharan Africa (SEADTLITRZSSSF) from 1985 to 2024 about Sub-Saharan Africa, literacy, adult, income, and rate.

South Africa ZA: Literacy Rate: Youth Female: % of Females Aged 15-24 data was reported at 99.229 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 99.084 % for 2014. South Africa ZA: Literacy Rate: Youth Female: % of Females Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 98.901 % from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2015, with 9 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 99.271 % in 2012 and a record low of 84.973 % in 1980. South Africa ZA: Literacy Rate: Youth Female: % of Females Aged 15-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.World Bank: Education Statistics. Youth literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15-24 who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

Historical dataset showing Sub-Saharan Africa literacy rate by year from 1985 to 2023.

Graph and download economic data for Literacy Rate, Adult Total for Developing Countries in Middle East and North Africa (SEADTLITRZSMNA) from 1972 to 2023 about North Africa, Middle East, literacy, adult, and rate.

This dataset provides values for LITERACY RATE ADULT TOTAL PERCENT OF PEOPLE AGES 15 AND ABOVE WB DATA.HTML reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

Literacy rate, adult male (% of males ages 15 and above) in South Africa was reported at 91.5 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Africa - Literacy rate, adult male (% of males ages 15 and above) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Literacy Rate, Adult Total for South Africa (SEADTLITRZSZAF) from 1980 to 2024 about literacy, adult, South Africa, and rate.

South Africa ZA: Literacy Rate: Youth Male: % of Males Aged 15-24 data was reported at 98.685 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 98.682 % for 2014. South Africa ZA: Literacy Rate: Youth Male: % of Males Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 98.389 % from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2015, with 9 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 98.685 % in 2015 and a record low of 85.346 % in 1980. South Africa ZA: Literacy Rate: Youth Male: % of Males Aged 15-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.World Bank: Education Statistics. Youth literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15-24 who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) in Central African Republic was reported at 37.49 % in 2020, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Central African Republic - Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Literacy Rate, Adult Total: All Income Levels for Middle East and North Africa (SEADTLITRZSMEA) from 1973 to 2024 about North Africa, Middle East, literacy, adult, income, and rate.

Literacy rate, youth male (% of males ages 15-24) in South Africa was reported at 96.34 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Africa - Literacy rate, youth male (% of males ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.