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 1.48 GPIA 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 GPIA.
Analysis
In 2023, gross graduation ratio from first degree programmes (isced 6 and 7) in South Africa stood at 1.48 GPIA. That is the highest value across all 12 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.7% on the previous year and up 8.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross graduation ratio from first degree programmes (isced 6 and 7) in South Africa peaked at 1.48 GPIA in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1.35 GPIA, in 2012.
South Africa ranks 16th of 108 countries on this measure, in the top 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 | GPIA | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 1.35 GPIA | — |
| 2013 | 1.36 GPIA | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 1.38 GPIA | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 1.37 GPIA | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 1.4 GPIA | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 1.39 GPIA | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 1.4 GPIA | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 1.4 GPIA | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 1.4 GPIA | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 1.43 GPIA | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 1.45 GPIA | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 1.48 GPIA | +2.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 1.38 GPIA | 1.35 GPIA | 1.4 GPIA | 8 |
| 2020s | 1.44 GPIA | 1.4 GPIA | 1.48 GPIA | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 13 Dominican Republic 1.5 GPIA compare
- 14 Algeria 1.49 GPIA compare
- 15 Slovenia 1.49 GPIA compare
- 17 Palestine 1.48 GPIA compare
- 18 New Zealand 1.48 GPIA compare
- 19 North Macedonia 1.48 GPIA 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 1.48 GPIA 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 1.48 GPIA 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 1.35 GPIA in 2012.
- How does South Africa rank for gross graduation ratio from first degree programmes (isced 6 and 7)?
- South Africa ranks 16th 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 8.9%. 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, adjusted gender parity index (GPIA). 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