Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary in South Africa
South Africa: Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary was 84.9% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary in South Africa, 1970–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in cumulative.
Analysis
The most recent figure for educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary in South Africa is 84.9%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
That represents a change of up 10.5% on the previous year and up 12.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary in South Africa peaked at 84.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 27.8%, in 1985.
That places South Africa 53rd out of 131 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary in South Africa, year by year
| Year | cumulative | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 29.9% | — |
| 1985 | 27.8% | -7.3% |
| 2001 | 53.6% | +93.2% |
| 2002 | 59.7% | +11.5% |
| 2003 | 61.6% | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 62.9% | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 63.1% | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 64.0% | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 65.5% | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 65.5% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 69.8% | +6.7% |
| 2010 | 70.2% | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 71.8% | +2.2% |
| 2012 | 73.6% | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 66.7% | -9.4% |
| 2014 | 75.2% | +12.7% |
| 2015 | 75.4% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 69.6% | -7.7% |
| 2017 | 71.1% | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 71.9% | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 72.7% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 78.3% | +7.7% |
| 2021 | 83.0% | +6.1% |
| 2022 | 75.4% | -9.2% |
| 2023 | 76.8% | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 84.9% | +10.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 29.9% | 29.9% | 29.9% | 1 |
| 1980s | 27.8% | 27.8% | 27.8% | 1 |
| 2000s | 62.9% | 53.6% | 69.8% | 9 |
| 2010s | 71.8% | 66.7% | 75.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 79.7% | 75.4% | 84.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary in South Africa?
- Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary in South Africa was 84.9% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 84.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.8% in 1985.
- How does South Africa rank for educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary?
- South Africa ranks 53rd out of 131 countries with data for 2024.
- Is educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.9%. 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 completed lower secondary, population 25+, female (%) (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 lower secondary education.