Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in South Africa
South Africa: Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary was 47.8% 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
The most recent figure for educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in South Africa is 47.8%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 13.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in South Africa peaked at 51.0% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 8.8%, in 1985.
South Africa ranks 82nd of 140 countries on this measure, 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 | 11.6% | — |
| 1985 | 8.8% | -24.8% |
| 2001 | 28.9% | +229.9% |
| 2009 | 38.6% | +33.8% |
| 2010 | 39.9% | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 40.3% | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 41.4% | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 42.2% | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 41.9% | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 42.2% | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 43.5% | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 44.1% | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 44.8% | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 50.6% | +13.0% |
| 2021 | 51.0% | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 46.1% | -9.6% |
| 2023 | 47.7% | +3.5% |
| 2024 | 47.8% | +0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 11.6% | 11.6% | 11.6% | 1 |
| 1980s | 8.8% | 8.8% | 8.8% | 1 |
| 2000s | 33.8% | 28.9% | 38.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 42.3% | 39.9% | 44.8% | 9 |
| 2020s | 48.6% | 46.1% | 51.0% | 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 upper secondary in South Africa?
- Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in South Africa was 47.8% 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 51.0% in 2021.
- What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.8% in 1985.
- How does South Africa rank for educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary?
- South Africa ranks 82nd out of 140 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 13.3%. 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+, 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 upper secondary education.