Educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ in South Africa
South Africa: Educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ was 89.3% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ 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 primary, population 25+ in South Africa is 89.3%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 27 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 9.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ in South Africa peaked at 89.3% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 33.6%, in 1985.
South Africa ranks 82nd of 136 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 27 years of available data.
Educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ in South Africa, year by year
| Year | cumulative | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 36.4% | — |
| 1980 | 39.9% | +9.5% |
| 1985 | 33.6% | -15.7% |
| 2001 | 62.3% | +85.0% |
| 2002 | 68.7% | +10.3% |
| 2003 | 70.8% | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 71.5% | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 72.2% | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 73.0% | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 74.1% | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 74.4% | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 78.0% | +4.9% |
| 2010 | 78.5% | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 79.1% | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 81.1% | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 80.8% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 81.8% | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 82.4% | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 82.6% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 85.9% | +4.0% |
| 2018 | 84.3% | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 84.9% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 88.4% | +4.2% |
| 2021 | 88.0% | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 87.0% | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 87.6% | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 89.3% | +2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 36.4% | 36.4% | 36.4% | 1 |
| 1980s | 36.8% | 33.6% | 39.9% | 2 |
| 2000s | 71.7% | 62.3% | 78.0% | 9 |
| 2010s | 82.1% | 78.5% | 85.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 88.1% | 87.0% | 89.3% | 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 completed primary, population 25+ in South Africa?
- Educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ in South Africa was 89.3% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 89.3% in 2024.
- What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.6% in 1985.
- How does South Africa rank for educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+?
- South Africa ranks 82nd out of 136 countries with data for 2024.
- Is educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.2%. 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 primary, population 25+ years, 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 primary education.