Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in South Africa
South Africa: Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary was 48.0% 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
South Africa recorded 48.0% for educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in 2024.
That represents a change of up 1.6% on the previous year and up 17.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in South Africa peaked at 50.0% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 8.2%, in 1985.
That places South Africa 86th out of 142 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 19 years of available data.
Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in South Africa, year by year
| Year | cumulative | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 10.3% | — |
| 1980 | 11.3% | +9.7% |
| 1985 | 8.2% | -27.1% |
| 2001 | 27.0% | +227.2% |
| 2009 | 36.6% | +35.7% |
| 2010 | 37.4% | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 38.1% | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 39.7% | +4.1% |
| 2014 | 40.7% | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 40.8% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 41.2% | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 42.4% | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 42.8% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 43.6% | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 49.1% | +12.6% |
| 2021 | 50.0% | +1.9% |
| 2022 | 45.5% | -9.1% |
| 2023 | 47.2% | +3.7% |
| 2024 | 48.0% | +1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 10.3% | 10.3% | 10.3% | 1 |
| 1980s | 9.8% | 8.2% | 11.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 31.8% | 27.0% | 36.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 40.8% | 37.4% | 43.6% | 9 |
| 2020s | 48.0% | 45.5% | 50.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 5.50 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 2.22 % change on previous year (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 287,310 (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 13.45 % change on previous year (2015)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.82 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.53 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.68 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 2.97 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 818,404 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 3.28 % 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 48.0% 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 50.0% in 2021.
- What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.2% in 1985.
- How does South Africa rank for educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary?
- South Africa ranks 86th out of 142 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 17.8%. 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+, 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 upper secondary education.