Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population in South Africa
South Africa: Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population was 97.4% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population in South Africa, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population in South Africa is 97.4%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 0.6% on the previous year and up 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population in South Africa peaked at 97.5% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 59.4%, in 1970.
That places South Africa 76th out of 134 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 59.4% | — |
| 1985 | 77.5% | +30.4% |
| 2001 | 82.5% | +6.5% |
| 2002 | 89.7% | +8.7% |
| 2003 | 90.8% | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 90.5% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 91.4% | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 91.3% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 92.5% | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 92.1% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 93.6% | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 93.9% | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 93.7% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 94.8% | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 94.9% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 95.4% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 95.3% | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 95.4% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 96.1% | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 96.1% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 96.2% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 97.5% | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 97.2% | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 96.5% | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 96.8% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 97.4% | +0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 59.4% | 59.4% | 59.4% | 1 |
| 1980s | 77.5% | 77.5% | 77.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 90.5% | 82.5% | 93.6% | 9 |
| 2010s | 95.2% | 93.7% | 96.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 97.1% | 96.5% | 97.5% | 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 some primary (isced 1), population in South Africa?
- Educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population in South Africa was 97.4% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 97.5% in 2020.
- What is the lowest educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 59.4% in 1970.
- How does South Africa rank for educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population?
- South Africa ranks 76th out of 134 countries with data for 2024.
- Is educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population 25+ years, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release