Completion rate, lower secondary education, rural, both sexes in South Africa

South Africa: Completion rate, lower secondary education, rural, both sexes was 90.0% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
90.0%
Change on year
down 0.6%
World rank
36th
of 87 countries
All-time high
91.4%
in 2021
All-time low
80.4%
in 2011
Years of data
7
2011–2024

Completion rate, lower secondary education, rural, both sexes in South Africa, 2011–2024

0204060801002011201720242011: 80.4 %2016: 83.6 %2020: 91 %2021: 91.4 %2022: 91.1 %2023: 90.5 %2024: 90 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for completion rate, lower secondary education, rural, both sexes in South Africa is 90.0%, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% on the previous year and up 7.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, completion rate, lower secondary education, rural, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 91.4% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 80.4%, in 2011.

South Africa ranks 36th of 87 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Completion rate, lower secondary education, rural, both sexes in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Completion rate, lower secondary education, rural, both sexes (%) in South Africa, 2011 to 2024.
Year % Change
2011 80.4%
2016 83.6% +4.0%
2020 91.0% +8.7%
2021 91.4% +0.5%
2022 91.1% -0.3%
2023 90.5% -0.7%
2024 90.0% -0.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 82.0% 80.4% 83.6% 2
2020s 90.8% 90.0% 91.4% 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 33 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 93.0% compare
  2. 34 Cyprus 92.8% compare
  3. 35 Peru 91.7% compare
  4. 37 Jordan 89.7% compare
  5. 38 Thailand 89.0% compare
  6. 39 Costa Rica 86.7% compare

See the full ranking of 87 places →

More education data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is completion rate, lower secondary education, rural, both sexes in South Africa?
Completion rate, lower secondary education, rural, both sexes in South Africa was 90.0% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest completion rate, lower secondary education, rural, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 91.4% in 2021.
What is the lowest completion rate, lower secondary education, rural, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 80.4% in 2011.
How does South Africa rank for completion rate, lower secondary education, rural, both sexes?
South Africa ranks 36th out of 87 countries with data for 2024.
Is completion rate, lower secondary education, rural, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 7.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Completion rate, lower secondary education, rural, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Completion rate, lower secondary education, rural, both sexes in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/completion-rate-lower-secondary-education-rural-both-sexes-percent-2/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Completion rate, lower secondary education, rural, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
87 places, 985 data points, 1996–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release