Share of people ages 15 and over who can read and write. Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
| Period | Adult Literacy Rate |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 91.2% |
| 2021 | 90% |
| 2019 | 95% |
| 2016 | 91.7% |
| 2015 | 94.4% |
| 2014 | 94.1% |
| 2012 | 93.7% |
| 2011 | 93.1% |
| 2010 | 92.9% |
| 2009 | 92.9% |
| 2007 | 88.7% |
14 countries carry a recent adult literacy rate figure. Each opens its own page with the history, the source and the API request.
170 of 207 indicators carry a figure for South Africa, grouped by topic.