South Africa vs Sri Lanka: Literate and illiterate world population
South Africa
8.85
in 2024
Sri Lanka
7.26
in 2024
South Africa rank
58th
Sri Lanka rank
61st
Literate and illiterate world population over time
- South Africa
- Sri Lanka
How they compare
South Africa currently reports 8.85 against 7.26 in Sri Lanka, a difference of 1.59.
That makes South Africa's figure about 1.2 times Sri Lanka's.
The two have swapped places 4 times across 8 shared years of data; in 1950 it was South Africa ahead.
South Africa ranks 58th and Sri Lanka ranks 61st of 128 countries.
Across the 3 decades both report, South Africa averaged higher in 2 and Sri Lanka in 1.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Africa | Sri Lanka | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 57.5 | 37.5 | 20 | South Africa |
| 2010s | 6.37 | 7.82 | 1.45 | Sri Lanka |
| 2020s | 9.43 | 7.42 | 2.01 | South Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher literate and illiterate world population, South Africa or Sri Lanka?
- South Africa, at 8.85 against 7.26 in Sri Lanka as of 2024.
- What is the difference in literate and illiterate world population between South Africa and Sri Lanka?
- 1.59, with South Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Sri Lanka?
- 8 years are reported by both, from 1950 to 2024.
- How do South Africa and Sri Lanka rank globally for literate and illiterate world population?
- South Africa ranks 58th and Sri Lanka ranks 61st of 128 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Our World in Data, published as Literate and illiterate world population. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.