Mean years of schooling (ISCED 1 or higher), population 25+ years in South Africa
South Africa: Mean years of schooling (ISCED 1 or higher), population 25+ years was 10.41 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Mean years of schooling (ISCED 1 or higher), population 25+ years in South Africa, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for mean years of schooling (isced 1 or higher), population 25+ years in South Africa is 10.41, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 4.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mean years of schooling (isced 1 or higher), population 25+ years in South Africa peaked at 10.53 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 4.64, in 1970.
That places South Africa 66th out of 124 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
Mean years of schooling (ISCED 1 or higher), population 25+ years in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 4.64 | — |
| 1980 | 4.99 | +7.7% |
| 1985 | 4.99 | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 7.67 | +53.8% |
| 2002 | 8.52 | +11.1% |
| 2003 | 8.76 | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 8.82 | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 8.9 | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 8.95 | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 9.08 | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 9.22 | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 9.6 | +4.2% |
| 2010 | 9.67 | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 9.69 | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 9.93 | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 10.15 | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 10.23 | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 10.14 | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 10.53 | +3.8% |
| 2022 | 10.27 | -2.4% |
| 2023 | 10.41 | +1.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 10.41 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 9.95, 1.0× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 10.41 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.69, 1.8× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mean years of schooling (ISCED 1 or higher), population 25+ years in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | +53.8% | 4.99 | 7.67 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.64 | 4.64 | 4.64 | 1 |
| 1980s | 4.99 | 4.99 | 4.99 | 2 |
| 2000s | 8.83 | 7.67 | 9.6 | 9 |
| 2010s | 9.97 | 9.67 | 10.23 | 6 |
| 2020s | 10.4 | 10.27 | 10.53 | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 63 Spain 10.61 compare
- 64 Macau, China 10.48 compare
- 65 Argentina 10.44 compare
- 67 Fiji 10.37 compare
- 68 Iran, Islamic Republic of 10.31 compare
- 69 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 10.31 compare
More education data for South Africa
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 181,739 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 339,638 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 410,708 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 407,696 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 5.50 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mean years of schooling (isced 1 or higher), population 25+ years in South Africa?
- Mean years of schooling (isced 1 or higher), population 25+ years in South Africa was 10.41 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest mean years of schooling (isced 1 or higher), population 25+ years recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 10.53 in 2020.
- What is the lowest mean years of schooling (isced 1 or higher), population 25+ years recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.64 in 1970.
- How does South Africa rank for mean years of schooling (isced 1 or higher), population 25+ years?
- South Africa ranks 66th out of 124 countries with data for 2023.
- Is mean years of schooling (isced 1 or higher), population 25+ years rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.8%. 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 Mean years of schooling (ISCED 1 or higher), population 25+ years, both sexes. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release