Educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary in South Africa
South Africa: Educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary was 35.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary in South Africa, 2001–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary in South Africa is 35.6%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.
That represents a change of up 5.7% on the previous year and up 480.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary in South Africa peaked at 35.6% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 4.0%, in 2001.
South Africa ranks 15th of 79 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
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 | 4.0% | — |
| 2002 | 4.3% | +7.3% |
| 2003 | 4.1% | -4.4% |
| 2004 | 4.3% | +3.9% |
| 2005 | 4.4% | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 4.4% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 4.4% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 4.9% | +11.3% |
| 2009 | 4.8% | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 5.2% | +8.6% |
| 2011 | 5.0% | -4.5% |
| 2012 | 5.4% | +8.4% |
| 2013 | 6.1% | +13.4% |
| 2014 | 6.1% | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 6.8% | +10.8% |
| 2016 | 7.5% | +10.2% |
| 2017 | 5.2% | -29.9% |
| 2018 | 7.7% | +46.4% |
| 2019 | 8.1% | +5.4% |
| 2021 | 33.6% | +316.0% |
| 2024 | 35.6% | +5.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4.4% | 4.0% | 4.9% | 9 |
| 2010s | 6.3% | 5.0% | 8.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 34.6% | 33.6% | 35.6% | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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 years (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 35.6% 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 35.6% in 2024.
- What is the lowest educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.0% in 2001.
- How does South Africa rank for educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary?
- South Africa ranks 15th out of 79 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 480.7%. 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, rural, both sexes (%). 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