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 16.1% 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
South Africa recorded 16.1% for gross graduation ratio from first degree programmes (isced 6 and 7) in 2023. That is the highest value across all 12 years on record.
The figure is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 83.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross graduation ratio from first degree programmes (isced 6 and 7) in South Africa peaked at 16.1% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 7.6%, in 2012.
That places South Africa 88th out of 108 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 | 7.6% | — |
| 2013 | 8.8% | +14.9% |
| 2014 | 9.4% | +7.5% |
| 2015 | 10.1% | +6.7% |
| 2016 | 11.1% | +10.2% |
| 2017 | 11.9% | +7.3% |
| 2018 | 12.9% | +8.3% |
| 2019 | 13.0% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 14.2% | +9.8% |
| 2021 | 14.1% | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 15.9% | +13.0% |
| 2023 | 16.1% | +1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 10.6% | 7.6% | 13.0% | 8 |
| 2020s | 15.1% | 14.1% | 16.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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 16.1% 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 16.1% in 2023.
- What is the lowest gross graduation ratio from first degree programmes (isced 6 and 7) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.6% in 2012.
- How does South Africa rank for gross graduation ratio from first degree programmes (isced 6 and 7)?
- South Africa ranks 88th out of 108 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 83.8%. 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, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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