South Africa is facing a major literacy crisis, with eight out of 10 Grade 4 pupils unable to read for meaning in any of the country’s official languages.
The figure means more than 900,000 children are unable to understand a simple story, placing South Africa at the bottom of the latest Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) rankings.
The country has also recorded the most significant decline among participating nations with comparable data, effectively wiping out a decade of gradual progress.
The crisis comes as the country works towards a commitment made by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2019 to ensure that every child reaches the age of 10 able to read for meaning by 2030.
Adult literacy remains a concern
The challenge extends beyond children.
While South Africa’s adult literacy rate was reported at 91.15 per cent in 2024, nearly four million adults were classified as illiterate in 2022.
The problem is particularly concentrated in the North West, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.
The figures highlight the gap between overall literacy rates and the number of people who still struggle to read and write, particularly among vulnerable communities.
Globally, the situation is also concerning. UNESCO estimates that 739 million adults cannot read or write, while approximately 182 million adults in sub-Saharan Africa are unable to read.
The World Bank, UNESCO and UNICEF have also reported that 70 per cent of 10-year-olds in low- and middle-income countries cannot read and understand a simple written text – up from 57 per cent before the Covid-19 pandemic.
One book at a time
As the world marks International Literacy Day this week, the World Literacy Foundation is calling on South Africans to support its One Book at a Time campaign.
The campaign aims to provide books to 500,000 children, with the Foundation working towards its broader goal of eradicating illiteracy by 2040.
Donors can choose a specific region for their contribution, with every $10 donated providing one book to a child.
Andrew Kay, CEO and founder of the World Literacy Foundation, said literacy goes far beyond the ability to read words.
“Literacy is not simply about learning to read; it is about unlocking opportunity, reducing poverty, and giving children the chance to reach their full potential,” Kay said.
He also highlighted the number of young people who still lack access to books and the literacy support needed to develop their skills.
Solar-powered tablets bring books to classrooms
The World Literacy Foundation has also been working directly with schools in South Africa through its Sun Books initiative.
The programme provides solar-powered tablets to off-grid classrooms, with each tablet preloaded with more than 500 e-books.
The initiative also includes teacher training aimed at strengthening the way literacy is taught and improving educational delivery in classrooms that often have limited access to digital resources.
Dr Mia le Roux from the University of Pretoria serves as the Foundation’s local partner.
Together with the Literacy Association of South Africa and the Gauteng Department of Education, the partners have organised reading days at schools as part of efforts to encourage children to develop a stronger relationship with books and reading.
The combination of physical books, digital resources and teacher support is aimed at addressing some of the barriers that continue to limit access to literacy resources, particularly in under-resourced and off-grid communities.
A crisis measured in millions
The latest figures underline the scale of the challenge facing South Africa and the wider region.
- 81 per cent of South African Grade 4 pupils are unable to read for meaning in any language, according to PIRLS.
- South Africa’s adult literacy rate was reported at 91.15 per cent in 2024 by the World Bank.
- Nearly four million adults were classified as illiterate in South Africa in 2022, according to the Department of Higher Education and Training.
- Approximately 182 million adults in sub-Saharan Africa are unable to read, according to UNESCO.
- An estimated 739 million adults globally cannot read or write, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- Around 70 per cent of 10-year-olds in low- and middle-income countries cannot read and comprehend a simple written text, compared with 57 per cent before the pandemic.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of International Literacy Day, which was established by UNESCO in 1966.
The 2026 theme is “Literacy for People, the Planet, and Prosperity”, placing literacy within the broader conversation around education, opportunity and sustainable development.
