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

South Africa
85.4%
in 2024
Spain
84.3%
in 2023
South Africa rank
53rd
Spain rank
56th

Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary over time

  • South Africa
  • Spain
020406080197019972024

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 85.4% against 84.3% in Spain, a difference of 1.1%.

The two have swapped places 5 times across 21 shared years of data; in 1970 it was South Africa ahead.

South Africa ranks 53rd and Spain ranks 56th of 134 countries.

Across the 4 decades both report, South Africa averaged higher in 2 and Spain in 2.

Head to head by decade

Decade South Africa Spain Difference Ahead
1970s 31.1% 9.4% 21.6% South Africa
2000s 67.2% 63.7% 3.5% South Africa
2010s 73.4% 74.1% 0.7% Spain
2020s 79.4% 83.1% 3.7% Spain

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary, South Africa or Spain?
South Africa, at 85.4% against 84.3% in Spain as of 2024.
What is the difference in educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary between South Africa and Spain?
1.1%, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Spain?
21 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2023.
How do South Africa and Spain rank globally for educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary?
South Africa ranks 53rd and Spain ranks 56th 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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South Africa vs Spain: Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/educational-attainment-at-least-completed-lower-secondary-population-25-total-percent/south-africa/spain/

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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.