Barro-Lee: Percentage of population age 20-24 with tertiary in South Africa

South Africa: Barro-Lee: Percentage of population age 20-24 with tertiary was 1.5% in 2010. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2010)
1.5%
World rank
122nd
of 144 countries
All-time high
9.5%
in 1990
All-time low
1.1%
in 1980
Years of data
11
1960–2010

Barro-Lee: Percentage of population age 20-24 with tertiary in South Africa, 1960–2010

2468101960198520101960: 3.7 Incomplete and Completed Tertiary1965: 4.2 Incomplete and Completed Tertiary1970: 2.8 Incomplete and Completed Tertiary1975: 1.6 Incomplete and Completed Tertiary1980: 1.1 Incomplete and Completed Tertiary1985: 1.3 Incomplete and Completed Tertiary1990: 9.5 Incomplete and Completed Tertiary1995: 4.8 Incomplete and Completed Tertiary2000: 6.3 Incomplete and Completed Tertiary2005: 4.7 Incomplete and Completed Tertiary2010: 1.5 Incomplete and Completed Tertiary

Source: Robert J. Barro and Jong-Wha Lee: http://www.barrolee.com/. Measured in Incomplete and Completed Tertiary.

Analysis

In 2010, barro-lee: percentage of population age 20-24 with tertiary in South Africa stood at 1.5%.

That represents a change of down 75.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, barro-lee: percentage of population age 20-24 with tertiary in South Africa peaked at 9.5% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 1.1%, in 1980.

That places South Africa 122nd out of 144 countries with data for 2010, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Barro-Lee: Percentage of population age 20-24 with tertiary in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Barro-Lee: Percentage of population age 20-24 with tertiary schooling. Total (Incomplete and Completed Tertiary) in South Africa, 1960 to 2010.
Year Incomplete and Completed Tertiary Change
1960 3.7%
1965 4.2% +13.5%
1970 2.8% -33.3%
1975 1.6% -42.9%
1980 1.1% -31.2%
1985 1.3% +18.2%
1990 9.5% +631.5%
1995 4.8% -49.6%
2000 6.3% +30.9%
2005 4.7% -25.4%
2010 1.5% -67.5%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 1.5% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 12.4%, 12% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 1.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.9%, 81% of the median. (32 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 4.0% 3.7% 4.2% 2
1970s 2.2% 1.6% 2.8% 2
1980s 1.2% 1.1% 1.3% 2
1990s 7.2% 4.8% 9.5% 2
2000s 5.5% 4.7% 6.3% 2
2010s 1.5% 1.5% 1.5% 1

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 119 Central African Republic 1.9% compare
  2. 120 Senegal 1.9% compare
  3. 121 Mali 1.6% compare
  4. 123 El Salvador 1.4% compare
  5. 124 Niger 1.4% compare
  6. 125 Guyana 1.3% compare

See the full ranking of 144 places →

More education data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is barro-lee: percentage of population age 20-24 with tertiary in South Africa?
Barro-lee: percentage of population age 20-24 with tertiary in South Africa was 1.5% in 2010, according to Robert J. Barro and Jong-Wha Lee: http://www.barrolee.com/.
What is the highest barro-lee: percentage of population age 20-24 with tertiary recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 9.5% in 1990.
What is the lowest barro-lee: percentage of population age 20-24 with tertiary recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 1.1% in 1980.
How does South Africa rank for barro-lee: percentage of population age 20-24 with tertiary?
South Africa ranks 122nd out of 144 countries with data for 2010.
Is barro-lee: percentage of population age 20-24 with tertiary rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 75.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from Robert J. Barro and Jong-Wha Lee: http://www.barrolee.com/, published as part of Barro-Lee: Percentage of population age 20-24 with tertiary schooling. Total (Incomplete and Completed Tertiary). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Barro-Lee: Percentage of population age 20-24 with tertiary in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Robert J. Barro and Jong-Wha Lee: http://www.barrolee.com/. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/barro-lee-percentage-of-population-age-20-24-with-tertiary-schooling-total-incomplete-and/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Barro-Lee: Percentage of population age 20-24 with tertiary schooling. Total (Incomplete and Completed Tertiary)
Unit
Incomplete and Completed Tertiary
Source
Robert J. Barro and Jong-Wha Lee: http://www.barrolee.com/
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
144 places, 1,584 data points, 1960–2010
Last refreshed

Percentage of population age 20-24 with tertiary schooling. Total (Incomplete and Completed Tertiary)