Educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary in South Africa
South Africa: Educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary was 50.2% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary in South Africa, 2001–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary in South Africa stood at 50.2%. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.
The figure is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 238.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary in South Africa peaked at 50.2% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 9.4%, in 2001.
South Africa ranks 11th of 108 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 9.4% | — |
| 2002 | 10.9% | +16.0% |
| 2003 | 10.9% | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 11.3% | +4.4% |
| 2005 | 11.8% | +3.9% |
| 2006 | 10.6% | -9.9% |
| 2007 | 11.7% | +10.3% |
| 2008 | 12.5% | +6.7% |
| 2009 | 12.6% | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 13.1% | +3.9% |
| 2011 | 13.2% | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 14.3% | +8.0% |
| 2013 | 14.4% | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 14.8% | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 15.5% | +4.1% |
| 2016 | 13.9% | -10.0% |
| 2017 | 13.7% | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 14.6% | +6.3% |
| 2019 | 14.8% | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 49.6% | +234.5% |
| 2024 | 50.2% | +1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 11.3% | 9.4% | 12.6% | 9 |
| 2010s | 14.2% | 13.1% | 15.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 49.9% | 49.6% | 50.2% | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 8 New Zealand 54.1% compare
- 9 Cayman Islands 54.0% compare
- 10 Bermuda 51.2% compare
- 12 Luxembourg 50.1% compare
- 13 Australia 48.8% compare
- 14 Armenia 48.8% compare
More education data for South Africa
- Theoretical duration of pre-primary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non) 0.0494 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of upper secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of secondary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), gaps filled 2,023 tertiary education (2023)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), annual growth 0.0495 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 287,310 (2023)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 4 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary in South Africa?
- Educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary in South Africa was 50.2% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 50.2% in 2024.
- What is the lowest educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.4% in 2001.
- How does South Africa rank for educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary?
- South Africa ranks 11th out of 108 countries with data for 2024.
- Is educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 238.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary education or higher, population 25+ years, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 21 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release