Educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary in South Africa
South Africa: Educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary was 57.5% 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 57.5%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 213.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary in South Africa peaked at 57.5% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 11.7%, in 2001.
That places South Africa 8th out of 76 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 | 11.7% | — |
| 2002 | 13.8% | +17.8% |
| 2003 | 14.1% | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 14.8% | +4.7% |
| 2005 | 14.0% | -5.5% |
| 2006 | 12.9% | -7.3% |
| 2007 | 13.7% | +5.9% |
| 2008 | 15.4% | +12.4% |
| 2009 | 15.9% | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 15.9% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 16.6% | +4.1% |
| 2012 | 17.4% | +5.2% |
| 2013 | 17.5% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 18.3% | +4.9% |
| 2015 | 18.9% | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 17.3% | -8.2% |
| 2017 | 17.7% | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 17.9% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 18.3% | +2.5% |
| 2021 | 56.3% | +207.8% |
| 2024 | 57.5% | +2.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 14.0% | 11.7% | 15.9% | 9 |
| 2010s | 17.6% | 15.9% | 18.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 56.9% | 56.3% | 57.5% | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) -2.55 % change on previous year (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 225,583 (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 61,727 (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 748,573 (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) -1.43 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 444,590 (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) -4.38 % change on previous year (2023)
- Theoretical duration of primary education (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- 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)
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 57.5% 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 57.5% in 2024.
- What is the lowest educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.7% in 2001.
- How does South Africa rank for educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary?
- South Africa ranks 8th out of 76 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 213.3%. 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, urban, 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