Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary in South Africa
South Africa: Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary was 86.1% 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
In 2024, educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary in South Africa stood at 86.1%. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
The figure is up 9.1% on the previous year and up 10.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary in South Africa peaked at 86.1% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 30.1%, in 1985.
South Africa ranks 56th of 132 countries on this measure, 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 | 32.2% | — |
| 1985 | 30.1% | -6.7% |
| 2001 | 57.9% | +92.7% |
| 2002 | 63.4% | +9.4% |
| 2003 | 66.8% | +5.5% |
| 2004 | 66.1% | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 68.1% | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 69.0% | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 69.3% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 70.9% | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 74.3% | +4.8% |
| 2010 | 74.5% | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 74.7% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 77.3% | +3.5% |
| 2013 | 70.8% | -8.4% |
| 2014 | 78.2% | +10.5% |
| 2015 | 79.1% | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 72.8% | -8.0% |
| 2017 | 73.6% | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 75.1% | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 75.6% | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 80.4% | +6.4% |
| 2021 | 84.9% | +5.5% |
| 2022 | 78.0% | -8.1% |
| 2023 | 78.9% | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 86.1% | +9.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 32.2% | 32.2% | 32.2% | 1 |
| 1980s | 30.1% | 30.1% | 30.1% | 1 |
| 2000s | 67.3% | 57.9% | 74.3% | 9 |
| 2010s | 75.2% | 70.8% | 79.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 81.7% | 78.0% | 86.1% | 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 86.1% 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 86.1% in 2024.
- What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.1% in 1985.
- How does South Africa rank for educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary?
- South Africa ranks 56th out of 132 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 10.1%. 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+, 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 lower secondary education.