Educational attainment, at least Master's or equivalent, population in South Africa
South Africa: Educational attainment, at least Master's or equivalent, population was 2.7% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Educational attainment, at least Master's or equivalent, population in South Africa, 2008–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in cumulative.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 2.7% for educational attainment, at least master's or equivalent, population in 2024. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 173.3% on the previous year and up 182.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least master's or equivalent, population in South Africa peaked at 2.7% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.8%, in 2018.
South Africa ranks 60th of 80 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Educational attainment, at least Master's or equivalent, population in South Africa, year by year
| Year | cumulative | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 1.0% | — |
| 2009 | 0.9% | -9.3% |
| 2010 | 1.0% | +10.5% |
| 2011 | 1.2% | +15.2% |
| 2013 | 0.8% | -28.6% |
| 2014 | 0.9% | +13.2% |
| 2015 | 1.3% | +36.2% |
| 2017 | 1.6% | +25.3% |
| 2018 | 0.8% | -51.8% |
| 2019 | 1.0% | +30.4% |
| 2020 | 0.9% | -10.7% |
| 2021 | 2.2% | +146.5% |
| 2022 | 1.0% | -54.7% |
| 2023 | 1.0% | -3.4% |
| 2024 | 2.7% | +173.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.0% | 0.9% | 1.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 1.1% | 0.8% | 1.6% | 8 |
| 2020s | 1.6% | 0.9% | 2.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 181,739 (2023)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is educational attainment, at least master's or equivalent, population in South Africa?
- Educational attainment, at least master's or equivalent, population in South Africa was 2.7% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest educational attainment, at least master's or equivalent, population recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 2.7% in 2024.
- What is the lowest educational attainment, at least master's or equivalent, population recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8% in 2018.
- How does South Africa rank for educational attainment, at least master's or equivalent, population?
- South Africa ranks 60th out of 80 countries with data for 2024.
- Is educational attainment, at least master's or equivalent, population rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 182.9%. 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 Master's or equivalent, 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 Master's or equivalent.