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

South Africa
17.3%
in 2024
Zimbabwe
17.4%
in 2023
South Africa rank
84th
Zimbabwe rank
83rd

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

  • South Africa
  • Zimbabwe
05101520197019972024

How they compare

Zimbabwe currently reports 17.4% against 17.3% in South Africa, a difference of 0.1%.

The two have swapped places 3 times across 8 shared years of data; in 2002 it was South Africa ahead.

South Africa ranks 84th and Zimbabwe ranks 83rd of 129 countries.

Across the 3 decades both report, South Africa averaged higher in 1 and Zimbabwe in 2.

Head to head by decade

Decade South Africa Zimbabwe Difference Ahead
2000s 4.8% 1.5% 3.2% South Africa
2010s 9.4% 11.4% 2.0% Zimbabwe
2020s 13.7% 17.3% 3.6% Zimbabwe

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary, South Africa or Zimbabwe?
Zimbabwe, at 17.4% against 17.3% in South Africa as of 2023.
What is the difference in educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary between South Africa and Zimbabwe?
0.1%, with Zimbabwe ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Zimbabwe?
8 years are reported by both, from 2002 to 2023.
How do South Africa and Zimbabwe rank globally for educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary?
South Africa ranks 84th and Zimbabwe ranks 83rd 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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South Africa vs Zimbabwe: Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/educational-attainment-at-least-completed-short-cycle-tertiary-population-25-total/south-africa/zimbabwe/

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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.