Barro-Lee: Percentage of population age 25-29 with primary schooling. in South Africa

South Africa: Barro-Lee: Percentage of population age 25-29 with primary schooling. was 8.5% in 2010. ▼ Falling

Latest (2010)
8.5%
World rank
88th
of 144 countries
All-time high
51.1%
in 1985
All-time low
8.5%
in 2010
Years of data
11
1960–2010

Barro-Lee: Percentage of population age 25-29 with primary schooling. in South Africa, 1960–2010

10203040501960198520101960: 27.8 Incomplete and Completed Primary1965: 29.9 Incomplete and Completed Primary1970: 31.7 Incomplete and Completed Primary1975: 39.4 Incomplete and Completed Primary1980: 45.1 Incomplete and Completed Primary1985: 51.1 Incomplete and Completed Primary1990: 42.2 Incomplete and Completed Primary1995: 33.4 Incomplete and Completed Primary2000: 15.9 Incomplete and Completed Primary2005: 12.3 Incomplete and Completed Primary2010: 8.5 Incomplete and Completed Primary

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for barro-lee: percentage of population age 25-29 with primary schooling. in South Africa is 8.5%, measured in 2010. That is the lowest value across all 11 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 47.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, barro-lee: percentage of population age 25-29 with primary schooling. in South Africa peaked at 51.1% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 8.5%, in 2010.

That places South Africa 88th out of 144 countries with data for 2010, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.

Barro-Lee: Percentage of population age 25-29 with primary schooling. in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Barro-Lee: Percentage of population age 25-29 with primary schooling. Total (Incomplete and Completed Primary) in South Africa, 1960 to 2010.
Year Incomplete and Completed Primary Change
1960 27.8%
1965 29.9% +7.7%
1970 31.7% +5.9%
1975 39.4% +24.3%
1980 45.1% +14.5%
1985 51.1% +13.3%
1990 42.2% -17.3%
1995 33.4% -21.0%
2000 15.9% -52.2%
2005 12.3% -22.8%
2010 8.5% -31.3%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 8.5% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 16.1%, 52% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 8.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 35.0%, 24% of the median. (32 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 28.9% 27.8% 29.9% 2
1970s 35.5% 31.7% 39.4% 2
1980s 48.1% 45.1% 51.1% 2
1990s 37.8% 33.4% 42.2% 2
2000s 14.1% 12.3% 15.9% 2
2010s 8.5% 8.5% 8.5% 1

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 85 Spain 8.7% compare
  2. 86 China 8.6% compare
  3. 87 Jordan 8.5% compare
  4. 89 Malaysia 8.4% compare
  5. 90 Greece 8.2% compare
  6. 91 Cuba 7.9% 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 25-29 with primary schooling. in South Africa?
Barro-lee: percentage of population age 25-29 with primary schooling. in South Africa was 8.5% 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 25-29 with primary schooling. recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 51.1% in 1985.
What is the lowest barro-lee: percentage of population age 25-29 with primary schooling. recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 8.5% in 2010.
How does South Africa rank for barro-lee: percentage of population age 25-29 with primary schooling.?
South Africa ranks 88th out of 144 countries with data for 2010.
Is barro-lee: percentage of population age 25-29 with primary schooling. rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 47.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
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 25-29 with primary schooling. Total (Incomplete and Completed Primary). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Barro-Lee: Percentage of population age 25-29 with primary schooling. in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Robert J. Barro and Jong-Wha Lee: http://www.barrolee.com/. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/barro-lee-percentage-of-population-age-25-29-with-primary-schooling-total-incomplete-and/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Barro-Lee: Percentage of population age 25-29 with primary schooling. Total (Incomplete and Completed Primary)
Unit
Incomplete and Completed Primary
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 25-29 with primary schooling. Total (Incomplete and Completed Primary)