4.1.2 Completion rate in upper secondary education in South Africa
South Africa: 4.1.2 Completion rate in upper secondary education was 48.6 in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
48.6
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
98th
of 164 countries
All-time high
49
in 2011
All-time low
42
in 2000
Years of data
21
2000–2020
4.1.2 Completion rate in upper secondary education in South Africa, 2000–2020
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2020, 4.1.2 completion rate in upper secondary education in South Africa stood at 48.6.
The figure is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 8.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, 4.1.2 completion rate in upper secondary education in South Africa peaked at 49 in 2011 and was at its lowest, 42, in 2000.
South Africa ranks 98th of 164 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
4.1.2 Completion rate in upper secondary education in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 42 | — |
| 2001 | 42 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 42 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 42 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 42 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 42 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 43 | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 43 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 44 | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 44 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 45 | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 49 | +8.9% |
| 2012 | 46 | -6.1% |
| 2013 | 46 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 46 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 46 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 49 | +6.5% |
| 2017 | 47 | -4.1% |
| 2018 | 47 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 48 | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 48.6 | +1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 42.6 | 42 | 44 | 10 |
| 2010s | 46.9 | 45 | 49 | 10 |
| 2020s | 48.6 | 48.6 | 48.6 | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- Theoretical duration of pre-primary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non) 0.0494 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of upper secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of secondary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), gaps filled 2,023 tertiary education (2023)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), annual growth 0.0495 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 287,310 (2023)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre-primary education 4 years (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is 4.1.2 completion rate in upper secondary education in South Africa?
- 4.1.2 completion rate in upper secondary education in South Africa was 48.6 in 2020, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest 4.1.2 completion rate in upper secondary education recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 49 in 2011.
- What is the lowest 4.1.2 completion rate in upper secondary education recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 42 in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for 4.1.2 completion rate in upper secondary education?
- South Africa ranks 98th out of 164 countries with data for 2020.
- Is 4.1.2 completion rate in upper secondary education rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of 4.1.2 Completion rate in upper secondary education (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 21 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).