Lower secondary completion rate, total in South Africa
South Africa: Lower secondary completion rate, total was 88.3% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Lower secondary completion rate, total in South Africa, 1991–2023
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of relevant age group.
Analysis
The most recent figure for lower secondary completion rate, total in South Africa is 88.3%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 9.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lower secondary completion rate, total in South Africa peaked at 93.7% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 56.2%, in 1991.
South Africa ranks 96th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Lower secondary completion rate, total in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of relevant age group | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 56.2% | — |
| 1999 | 67.0% | +19.1% |
| 2000 | 63.8% | -4.8% |
| 2002 | 80.2% | +25.8% |
| 2003 | 70.0% | -12.8% |
| 2004 | 68.1% | -2.6% |
| 2016 | 80.5% | +18.2% |
| 2018 | 82.8% | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 83.1% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 86.7% | +4.3% |
| 2021 | 93.7% | +8.2% |
| 2022 | 86.9% | -7.3% |
| 2023 | 88.3% | +1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 61.6% | 56.2% | 67.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 70.5% | 63.8% | 80.2% | 4 |
| 2010s | 82.1% | 80.5% | 83.1% | 3 |
| 2020s | 88.9% | 86.7% | 93.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 93 Cuba 89.2% compare
- 94 Mongolia 89.1% compare
- 95 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 88.5% compare
- 97 Timor-Leste 88.3% compare
- 98 India 88.0% compare
- 99 Tajikistan 88.0% compare
More education data for South Africa
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 5.50 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 2.22 % change on previous year (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 287,310 (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 13.45 % change on previous year (2015)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.82 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.53 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.68 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 2.97 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 818,404 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 3.28 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lower secondary completion rate, total in South Africa?
- Lower secondary completion rate, total in South Africa was 88.3% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest lower secondary completion rate, total recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 93.7% in 2021.
- What is the lowest lower secondary completion rate, total recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.2% in 1991.
- How does South Africa rank for lower secondary completion rate, total?
- South Africa ranks 96th out of 187 countries with data for 2023.
- Is lower secondary completion rate, total rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Lower secondary completion rate, total (% of relevant age group). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Lower secondary education completion rate is measured as the gross intake ratio to the last grade of lower secondary education (general and pre-vocational). It is calculated as the number of new entrants in the last grade of lower secondary education, regardless of age, divided by the population at the entrance age for the last grade of lower secondary education.