Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in South Africa
South Africa: Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary was 18.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in South Africa, 1970–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in cumulative.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 18.4% for educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in 2024. That is the highest value across all 27 years on record.
That represents a change of up 31.9% on the previous year and up 172.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in South Africa peaked at 18.4% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.5%, in 1985.
South Africa ranks 84th of 128 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in South Africa, year by year
| Year | cumulative | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3.1% | — |
| 1985 | 1.5% | -50.6% |
| 2000 | 3.7% | +144.0% |
| 2001 | 3.6% | -2.4% |
| 2002 | 3.9% | +8.4% |
| 2003 | 4.6% | +18.1% |
| 2004 | 4.3% | -6.4% |
| 2005 | 3.5% | -20.4% |
| 2006 | 3.5% | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 3.7% | +7.2% |
| 2008 | 4.2% | +13.7% |
| 2009 | 5.4% | +28.3% |
| 2010 | 5.6% | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 5.6% | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 5.8% | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 11.2% | +91.7% |
| 2014 | 6.7% | -39.7% |
| 2015 | 7.4% | +9.6% |
| 2016 | 9.9% | +33.5% |
| 2017 | 12.0% | +21.5% |
| 2018 | 12.2% | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 12.6% | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 12.7% | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 15.9% | +25.1% |
| 2022 | 13.0% | -17.8% |
| 2023 | 13.9% | +7.1% |
| 2024 | 18.4% | +31.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 1 |
| 1980s | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 4.1% | 3.5% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.9% | 5.6% | 12.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.8% | 12.7% | 18.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- 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)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita 0.119 units per person (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 3.65 million (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in South Africa?
- Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in South Africa was 18.4% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 18.4% in 2024.
- What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.5% in 1985.
- How does South Africa rank for educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary?
- South Africa ranks 84th out of 128 countries with data for 2024.
- Is educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 172.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 short-cycle tertiary, 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 short-cycle tertiary education.