Completion rate, upper secondary education, both sexes in South Africa
South Africa: Completion rate, upper secondary education, both sexes was 62.2% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
62.2%
Change on year
up 4.2%
World rank
55th
of 95 countries
All-time high
63.2%
in 2021
All-time low
48.5%
in 2016
Years of data
7
2011–2024
Completion rate, upper secondary education, both sexes in South Africa, 2011–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 62.2% for completion rate, upper secondary education, both sexes in 2024.
The figure is up 4.2% on the previous year and up 28.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, completion rate, upper secondary education, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 63.2% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 48.5%, in 2016.
South Africa ranks 55th of 95 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Completion rate, upper secondary education, both sexes in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 48.8% | — |
| 2016 | 48.5% | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 61.5% | +26.7% |
| 2021 | 63.2% | +2.8% |
| 2022 | 57.7% | -8.7% |
| 2023 | 59.7% | +3.4% |
| 2024 | 62.2% | +4.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 48.7% | 48.5% | 48.8% | 2 |
| 2020s | 60.9% | 57.7% | 63.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 5.50 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 2.22 % change on previous year (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 287,310 (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 13.45 % change on previous year (2015)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.82 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.53 % change on previous year (2023)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is completion rate, upper secondary education, both sexes in South Africa?
- Completion rate, upper secondary education, both sexes in South Africa was 62.2% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest completion rate, upper secondary education, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 63.2% in 2021.
- What is the lowest completion rate, upper secondary education, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.5% in 2016.
- How does South Africa rank for completion rate, upper secondary education, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 55th out of 95 countries with data for 2024.
- Is completion rate, upper secondary education, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.2%. 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 (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 7 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release