Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in South Africa
South Africa: Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary was 48.1% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Educational attainment, at least completed upper 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 upper secondary in South Africa stood at 48.1%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.9% on the previous year and up 22.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in South Africa peaked at 49.3% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 7.8%, in 1985.
That places South Africa 83rd out of 141 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.
Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in South Africa, year by year
| Year | cumulative | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 9.1% | — |
| 1985 | 7.8% | -14.4% |
| 2001 | 25.4% | +227.1% |
| 2009 | 34.8% | +37.2% |
| 2010 | 35.2% | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 36.2% | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 38.2% | +5.6% |
| 2014 | 39.3% | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 39.9% | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 40.3% | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 41.4% | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 41.6% | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 42.6% | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 47.9% | +12.6% |
| 2021 | 49.3% | +2.8% |
| 2022 | 45.0% | -8.6% |
| 2023 | 46.7% | +3.8% |
| 2024 | 48.1% | +2.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 9.1% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 1 |
| 1980s | 7.8% | 7.8% | 7.8% | 1 |
| 2000s | 30.1% | 25.4% | 34.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 39.4% | 35.2% | 42.6% | 9 |
| 2020s | 47.4% | 45.0% | 49.3% | 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 upper secondary in South Africa?
- Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in South Africa was 48.1% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 49.3% in 2021.
- What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.8% in 1985.
- How does South Africa rank for educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary?
- South Africa ranks 83rd out of 141 countries with data for 2024.
- Is educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.2%. 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 upper 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 upper secondary education.