South Africa vs United States of America: Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education
South Africa
1.15 GPIA
in 2024
United States of America
1.15 GPIA
in 2024
South Africa rank
47th
United States of America rank
45th
Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education over time
- South Africa
- United States of America
How they compare
United States of America currently reports 1.15 GPIA against 1.15 GPIA in South Africa, a difference of 0 GPIA.
The two have swapped places 4 times across 22 shared years of data; in 1970 it was United States of America ahead.
South Africa ranks 47th and United States of America ranks 45th of 88 countries.
United States of America has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Africa | United States of America | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.7863 GPIA | 0.9552 GPIA | 0.1689 GPIA | United States of America |
| 2000s | 0.7886 GPIA | 1.1 GPIA | 0.31 GPIA | United States of America |
| 2010s | 1.02 GPIA | 1.14 GPIA | 0.1134 GPIA | United States of America |
| 2020s | 1.14 GPIA | 1.17 GPIA | 0.029 GPIA | United States of America |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education, South Africa or United States of America?
- United States of America, at 1.15 GPIA against 1.15 GPIA in South Africa as of 2024.
- What is the difference in educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education between South Africa and United States of America?
- 0 GPIA, with United States of America ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and United States of America?
- 22 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2024.
- How do South Africa and United States of America rank globally for educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education?
- South Africa ranks 47th and United States of America ranks 45th of 88 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education or higher, population 25+ years, rural, adjusted gender parity index (GPIA). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
February 2026 Data Release