Gross graduation ratio from first degree programmes (ISCED 6 and 7) in South Africa
South Africa: Gross graduation ratio from first degree programmes (ISCED 6 and 7) was 12.2% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Gross graduation ratio from first degree programmes (ISCED 6 and 7) in South Africa, 2012–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, gross graduation ratio from first degree programmes (isced 6 and 7) in South Africa stood at 12.2%.
The figure is down 1.2% on the previous year and up 70.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross graduation ratio from first degree programmes (isced 6 and 7) in South Africa peaked at 12.4% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 6.3%, in 2012.
South Africa ranks 89th of 111 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.
Gross graduation ratio from first degree programmes (ISCED 6 and 7) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 6.3% | — |
| 2013 | 7.2% | +13.7% |
| 2014 | 7.6% | +6.5% |
| 2015 | 8.2% | +6.9% |
| 2016 | 8.8% | +8.3% |
| 2017 | 9.6% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | 10.3% | +7.8% |
| 2019 | 10.3% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 11.4% | +10.0% |
| 2021 | 11.0% | -2.9% |
| 2022 | 12.4% | +11.8% |
| 2023 | 12.2% | -1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 8.5% | 6.3% | 10.3% | 8 |
| 2020s | 11.7% | 11.0% | 12.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 86 El Salvador 13.1% compare
- 87 Argentina 12.5% compare
- 88 Sri Lanka 12.3% compare
- 90 Uzbekistan 11.3%
- 91 Seychelles 11.1% compare
- 92 Honduras 10.9% compare
More education data for South Africa
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.52 million (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -1.44 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita 0.119 units per person (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 3.65 million (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross graduation ratio from first degree programmes (isced 6 and 7) in South Africa?
- Gross graduation ratio from first degree programmes (isced 6 and 7) in South Africa was 12.2% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross graduation ratio from first degree programmes (isced 6 and 7) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 12.4% in 2022.
- What is the lowest gross graduation ratio from first degree programmes (isced 6 and 7) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.3% in 2012.
- How does South Africa rank for gross graduation ratio from first degree programmes (isced 6 and 7)?
- South Africa ranks 89th out of 111 countries with data for 2023.
- Is gross graduation ratio from first degree programmes (isced 6 and 7) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 70.2%. 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 Gross graduation ratio from first degree programmes (ISCED 6 and 7) in tertiary education, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 12 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release