Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in South Africa
South Africa: Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary was 17.3% 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
In 2024, educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in South Africa stood at 17.3%. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 31.8% on the previous year and up 142.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in South Africa peaked at 17.3% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.4%, in 1980.
That places South Africa 84th out of 129 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 | 3.7% | — |
| 1980 | 1.4% | -63.0% |
| 1985 | 2.3% | +69.8% |
| 2000 | 4.4% | +91.8% |
| 2001 | 4.3% | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 4.8% | +10.8% |
| 2003 | 5.5% | +15.4% |
| 2004 | 4.9% | -10.5% |
| 2005 | 4.2% | -14.6% |
| 2006 | 4.2% | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 4.4% | +5.3% |
| 2008 | 4.7% | +6.1% |
| 2009 | 5.8% | +25.4% |
| 2010 | 6.2% | +6.1% |
| 2011 | 6.1% | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 6.5% | +5.0% |
| 2013 | 11.3% | +75.2% |
| 2014 | 7.1% | -36.9% |
| 2015 | 7.8% | +9.5% |
| 2016 | 9.8% | +25.7% |
| 2017 | 11.8% | +20.4% |
| 2018 | 11.9% | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 12.2% | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 12.1% | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 15.7% | +29.7% |
| 2022 | 12.4% | -21.3% |
| 2023 | 13.1% | +6.1% |
| 2024 | 17.3% | +31.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.7% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 1 |
| 1980s | 1.8% | 1.4% | 2.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 4.7% | 4.2% | 5.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.1% | 6.1% | 12.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.1% | 12.1% | 17.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- Theoretical duration of pre-primary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non) 0.0494 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of upper secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of secondary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), gaps filled 2,023 tertiary education (2023)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), annual growth 0.0495 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 287,310 (2023)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre-primary education 4 years (2025)
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 17.3% 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 17.3% in 2024.
- What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.4% in 1980.
- How does South Africa rank for educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary?
- South Africa ranks 84th out of 129 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 142.2%. 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+, 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 short-cycle tertiary education.