Italy vs South Africa: Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary

Italy
17.7%
in 2023
South Africa
17.3%
in 2024
Italy rank
82nd
South Africa rank
84th

Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary over time

  • Italy
  • South Africa
05101520197019972024

How they compare

Italy currently reports 17.7% against 17.3% in South Africa, a difference of 0.4%.

Across all 24 years both countries report, Italy has been ahead every year.

Italy ranks 82nd and South Africa ranks 84th of 129 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 10.1% 4.7% 5.3% Italy
2010s 14.1% 9.1% 5.1% Italy
2020s 16.8% 13.3% 3.5% Italy

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary, Italy or South Africa?
Italy, at 17.7% against 17.3% in South Africa as of 2023.
What is the difference in educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary between Italy and South Africa?
0.4%, with Italy ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Italy and South Africa?
24 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2023.
How do Italy and South Africa rank globally for educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary?
Italy ranks 82nd and South Africa ranks 84th of 129 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary, 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 short-cycle tertiary. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/educational-attainment-at-least-completed-short-cycle-tertiary-population-25-total/italy/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary, 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
129 places, 2,142 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed short-cycle tertiary education.