Educational attainment, at least Bachelor's or equivalent, population in South Africa
South Africa: Educational attainment, at least Bachelor's or equivalent, population was 14.4% 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 14.4%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 16 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 104.5% on the previous year and up 137.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least bachelor's or equivalent, population in South Africa peaked at 14.4% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 4.6%, in 2008.
South Africa ranks 70th of 112 countries on this measure, 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 | 4.6% | — |
| 2009 | 4.6% | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 4.8% | +4.4% |
| 2011 | 5.2% | +7.0% |
| 2013 | 6.0% | +14.9% |
| 2014 | 6.0% | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 6.1% | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 6.3% | +3.9% |
| 2017 | 8.2% | +30.9% |
| 2018 | 6.8% | -17.3% |
| 2019 | 7.2% | +5.8% |
| 2020 | 6.6% | -7.9% |
| 2021 | 13.0% | +95.2% |
| 2022 | 6.1% | -53.0% |
| 2023 | 7.0% | +15.3% |
| 2024 | 14.4% | +104.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4.6% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 6.3% | 4.8% | 8.2% | 9 |
| 2020s | 9.4% | 6.1% | 14.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.52 million (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -1.44 % change on previous year (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 14.4% 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 14.4% in 2024.
- What is the lowest educational attainment, at least bachelor's or equivalent, population recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.6% in 2008.
- How does South Africa rank for educational attainment, at least bachelor's or equivalent, population?
- South Africa ranks 70th 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 137.7%. 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+, total (%) (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.