Italy vs South Africa: Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary

Italy
84.4%
in 2023
South Africa
85.4%
in 2024
Italy rank
55th
South Africa rank
53rd

Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary over time

  • Italy
  • South Africa
20406080197019972024

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 85.4% against 84.4% in Italy, a difference of 1.0%.

The two have swapped places 2 times across 20 shared years of data; in 2001 it was Italy ahead.

Italy ranks 55th and South Africa ranks 53rd of 134 countries.

Italy has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Italy South Africa Difference Ahead
2000s 69.8% 65.8% 4.0% Italy
2010s 78.3% 73.4% 4.9% Italy
2020s 83.0% 79.4% 3.6% Italy

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary, Italy or South Africa?
South Africa, at 85.4% against 84.4% in Italy as of 2024.
What is the difference in educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary between Italy and South Africa?
1.0%, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Italy and South Africa?
20 years are reported by both, from 2001 to 2023.
How do Italy and South Africa rank globally for educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary?
Italy ranks 55th and South Africa ranks 53rd of 134 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary, population 25+, total (%) (cumulative). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Italy vs South Africa: Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/educational-attainment-at-least-completed-lower-secondary-population-25-total-percent/italy/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary, population 25+, total (%) (cumulative)
Unit
cumulative
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
134 places, 1,905 data points, 1970–2024
Last refreshed

The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed lower secondary education.