Educational attainment, at least Bachelor's or equivalent, population in South Africa
South Africa: Educational attainment, at least Bachelor's or equivalent, population was 13.2% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Educational attainment, at least Bachelor's or equivalent, population in South Africa, 2008–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in cumulative.
Analysis
The most recent figure for educational attainment, at least bachelor's or equivalent, population in South Africa is 13.2%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 16 years on record.
The figure is up 90.2% on the previous year and up 102.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least bachelor's or equivalent, population in South Africa peaked at 13.2% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 5.3%, in 2008.
That places South Africa 72nd out of 112 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 16 years of available data.
Educational attainment, at least Bachelor's or equivalent, population in South Africa, year by year
| Year | cumulative | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 5.3% | — |
| 2009 | 5.3% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 5.6% | +6.8% |
| 2011 | 5.8% | +3.6% |
| 2013 | 6.4% | +9.8% |
| 2014 | 6.5% | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 6.5% | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 6.5% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 8.3% | +27.8% |
| 2018 | 7.0% | -15.6% |
| 2019 | 7.3% | +4.0% |
| 2020 | 6.4% | -12.1% |
| 2021 | 12.9% | +102.0% |
| 2022 | 6.1% | -53.0% |
| 2023 | 6.9% | +14.2% |
| 2024 | 13.2% | +90.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.3% | 5.3% | 5.3% | 2 |
| 2010s | 6.7% | 5.6% | 8.3% | 9 |
| 2020s | 9.1% | 6.1% | 13.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 181,739 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 339,638 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 410,708 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 407,696 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 5.50 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 7.52 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.119 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is educational attainment, at least bachelor's or equivalent, population in South Africa?
- Educational attainment, at least bachelor's or equivalent, population in South Africa was 13.2% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest educational attainment, at least bachelor's or equivalent, population recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 13.2% in 2024.
- What is the lowest educational attainment, at least bachelor's or equivalent, population recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.3% in 2008.
- How does South Africa rank for educational attainment, at least bachelor's or equivalent, population?
- South Africa ranks 72nd out of 112 countries with data for 2024.
- Is educational attainment, at least bachelor's or equivalent, population rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 102.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Educational attainment, at least Bachelor's or equivalent, population 25+, male (%) (cumulative). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed Bachelor's or equivalent.