Completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) in South Africa
South Africa: Completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) was 97.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) in South Africa, 1981–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) in South Africa stood at 97.1%. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 2.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) in South Africa peaked at 97.1% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 68.4%, in 1981.
South Africa ranks 86th of 165 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 68.4% | — |
| 1982 | 69.6% | +1.8% |
| 1983 | 71.0% | +2.0% |
| 1984 | 72.4% | +1.9% |
| 1985 | 73.8% | +1.8% |
| 1986 | 75.0% | +1.7% |
| 1987 | 76.2% | +1.7% |
| 1988 | 77.5% | +1.7% |
| 1989 | 78.7% | +1.6% |
| 1990 | 79.8% | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 80.8% | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 81.7% | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 82.5% | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 83.4% | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 84.2% | +0.9% |
| 1996 | 84.9% | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 85.6% | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 86.1% | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 86.6% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 87.2% | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 87.6% | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 88.1% | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 88.6% | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 89.2% | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 89.8% | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 90.5% | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 91.2% | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 91.7% | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 92.1% | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 92.4% | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 92.7% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 93.0% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 93.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 93.9% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 94.3% | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 94.7% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 95.0% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 95.3% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 95.6% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 95.9% | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 96.2% | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 96.4% | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 96.7% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 96.9% | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 97.1% | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 73.6% | 68.4% | 78.7% | 9 |
| 1990s | 83.6% | 79.8% | 86.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 89.6% | 87.2% | 92.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 94.0% | 92.4% | 95.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 96.5% | 95.9% | 97.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) -2.55 % change on previous year (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 225,583 (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 61,727 (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 748,573 (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) -1.43 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 444,590 (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) -4.38 % change on previous year (2023)
- Theoretical duration of primary education (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) in South Africa?
- Completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) in South Africa was 97.1% in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 97.1% in 2025.
- What is the lowest completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 68.4% in 1981.
- How does South Africa rank for completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data)?
- South Africa ranks 86th out of 165 countries with data for 2025.
- Is completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.9%. 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, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release