Costa Rica vs South Africa: Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population
Costa Rica
98.0%
in 2024
South Africa
98.4%
in 2024
Costa Rica rank
62nd
South Africa rank
61st
Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population over time
- Costa Rica
- South Africa
How they compare
South Africa currently reports 98.4% against 98.0% in Costa Rica, a difference of 0.4%.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 14 shared years of data; in 2001 it was Costa Rica ahead.
Costa Rica ranks 62nd and South Africa ranks 61st of 99 countries.
Across the 3 decades both report, Costa Rica averaged higher in 1 and South Africa in 2.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Costa Rica | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 96.9% | 94.4% | 2.5% | Costa Rica |
| 2010s | 96.7% | 97.5% | 0.8% | South Africa |
| 2020s | 97.6% | 98.5% | 1.0% | South Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population, Costa Rica or South Africa?
- South Africa, at 98.4% against 98.0% in Costa Rica as of 2024.
- What is the difference in educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population between Costa Rica and South Africa?
- 0.4%, with South Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Costa Rica and South Africa?
- 14 years are reported by both, from 2001 to 2024.
- How do Costa Rica and South Africa rank globally for educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population?
- Costa Rica ranks 62nd and South Africa ranks 61st of 99 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population 25+ years, urban, male (%). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
February 2026 Data Release