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 8.3% 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 8.3%.
The figure is down 5.6% on the previous year and up 48.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross graduation ratio from first degree programmes (isced 6 and 7) in South Africa peaked at 8.8% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 5.0%, in 2012.
South Africa ranks 91st of 108 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 | 5.0% | — |
| 2013 | 5.6% | +11.9% |
| 2014 | 5.9% | +4.8% |
| 2015 | 6.3% | +7.4% |
| 2016 | 6.7% | +5.7% |
| 2017 | 7.3% | +9.6% |
| 2018 | 7.8% | +6.8% |
| 2019 | 7.7% | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 8.5% | +10.3% |
| 2021 | 8.0% | -5.9% |
| 2022 | 8.8% | +9.8% |
| 2023 | 8.3% | -5.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 6.5% | 5.0% | 7.8% | 8 |
| 2020s | 8.4% | 8.0% | 8.8% | 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 8.3% 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 8.8% 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 5.0% in 2012.
- How does South Africa rank for gross graduation ratio from first degree programmes (isced 6 and 7)?
- South Africa ranks 91st 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 48.7%. 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, male (%). 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