Educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary in South Africa
South Africa: Educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary was 56.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary in South Africa, 2001–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary in South Africa stood at 56.5%. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.5% on the previous year and up 205.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary in South Africa peaked at 56.5% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 12.2%, in 2001.
That places South Africa 7th out of 75 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 | 12.2% | — |
| 2002 | 14.3% | +17.4% |
| 2003 | 14.4% | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 15.0% | +4.5% |
| 2005 | 14.4% | -4.0% |
| 2006 | 12.9% | -10.6% |
| 2007 | 14.3% | +11.1% |
| 2008 | 15.5% | +8.0% |
| 2009 | 16.1% | +4.1% |
| 2010 | 16.6% | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 17.0% | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 18.2% | +6.7% |
| 2013 | 17.8% | -2.2% |
| 2014 | 18.5% | +4.1% |
| 2015 | 19.2% | +3.7% |
| 2016 | 16.8% | -12.5% |
| 2017 | 17.6% | +5.1% |
| 2018 | 17.4% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 17.8% | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 55.7% | +213.1% |
| 2024 | 56.5% | +1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 14.4% | 12.2% | 16.1% | 9 |
| 2010s | 17.7% | 16.6% | 19.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 56.1% | 55.7% | 56.5% | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 4 Georgia 58.5% compare
- 5 Armenia 58.3% compare
- 6 South Korea 58.1% compare
- 8 Australia 55.1% compare
- 9 New Zealand 55.0% compare
- 10 Luxembourg 53.2% 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 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 56.5% 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 56.5% in 2024.
- What is the lowest educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.2% in 2001.
- How does South Africa rank for educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary?
- South Africa ranks 7th out of 75 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 205.6%. 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, 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