Completion rate, upper secondary education, both sexes (modelled data) in South Africa
South Africa: Completion rate, upper secondary education, both sexes (modelled data) was 54.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Completion rate, upper secondary education, both sexes (modelled data) in South Africa, 1981–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, completion rate, upper secondary education, both sexes (modelled data) in South Africa stood at 54.1%. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.1% on the previous year and up 13.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, completion rate, upper secondary education, both sexes (modelled data) in South Africa peaked at 54.1% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 24.2%, in 1981.
South Africa ranks 96th of 164 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, upper secondary education, both sexes (modelled data) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 24.2% | — |
| 1982 | 24.8% | +2.5% |
| 1983 | 25.4% | +2.5% |
| 1984 | 26.1% | +2.8% |
| 1985 | 27.0% | +3.3% |
| 1986 | 28.0% | +3.7% |
| 1987 | 29.2% | +4.3% |
| 1988 | 30.8% | +5.4% |
| 1989 | 32.5% | +5.7% |
| 1990 | 34.1% | +4.8% |
| 1991 | 35.2% | +3.2% |
| 1992 | 36.8% | +4.4% |
| 1993 | 38.4% | +4.5% |
| 1994 | 40.0% | +4.2% |
| 1995 | 40.9% | +2.3% |
| 1996 | 41.7% | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 42.4% | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 43.0% | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 43.3% | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 43.5% | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 43.4% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 43.7% | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 43.8% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 44.1% | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 44.3% | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 44.8% | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 45.5% | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 46.0% | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 46.3% | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 46.6% | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 47.0% | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 47.6% | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 47.9% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 47.9% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 47.8% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 48.1% | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 48.6% | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 49.2% | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 50.0% | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 50.7% | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 51.3% | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 52.0% | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 52.8% | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 53.5% | +1.4% |
| 2025 | 54.1% | +1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 27.6% | 24.2% | 32.5% | 9 |
| 1990s | 39.6% | 34.1% | 43.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 44.5% | 43.4% | 46.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.1% | 46.6% | 50.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 52.4% | 50.7% | 54.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.68 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 2.97 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 818,404 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 3.28 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 1.19 million (2023)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is completion rate, upper secondary education, both sexes (modelled data) in South Africa?
- Completion rate, upper secondary education, both sexes (modelled data) in South Africa was 54.1% in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest completion rate, upper secondary education, both sexes (modelled data) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 54.1% in 2025.
- What is the lowest completion rate, upper secondary education, both sexes (modelled data) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.2% in 1981.
- How does South Africa rank for completion rate, upper secondary education, both sexes (modelled data)?
- South Africa ranks 96th out of 164 countries with data for 2025.
- Is completion rate, upper secondary education, both sexes (modelled data) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.2%. 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, upper secondary education, both sexes (modelled data) (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release