Percentage of graduates from programmes other than Science in South Africa
South Africa: Percentage of graduates from programmes other than Science was 75.4% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Percentage of graduates from programmes other than Science in South Africa, 2014–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, percentage of graduates from programmes other than science in South Africa stood at 75.4%. That is the highest value across all 10 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 6.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of graduates from programmes other than science in South Africa peaked at 75.4% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 70.9%, in 2014.
South Africa ranks 21st of 122 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Percentage of graduates from programmes other than Science in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 70.9% | — |
| 2015 | 70.9% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 72.4% | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 72.4% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 72.6% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 72.5% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 74.6% | +2.9% |
| 2021 | 72.7% | -2.6% |
| 2022 | 74.2% | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 75.4% | +1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 72.0% | 70.9% | 72.6% | 6 |
| 2020s | 74.2% | 72.7% | 75.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) -2.55 % change on previous year (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 225,583 (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 61,727 (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 748,573 (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) -1.43 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 444,590 (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) -4.38 % change on previous year (2023)
- Theoretical duration of primary education (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of pre-primary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non) 0.0494 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is percentage of graduates from programmes other than science in South Africa?
- Percentage of graduates from programmes other than science in South Africa was 75.4% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest percentage of graduates from programmes other than science recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 75.4% in 2023.
- What is the lowest percentage of graduates from programmes other than science recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 70.9% in 2014.
- How does South Africa rank for percentage of graduates from programmes other than science?
- South Africa ranks 21st out of 122 countries with data for 2023.
- Is percentage of graduates from programmes other than science rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.3%. 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 Percentage of graduates from programmes other than Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in tertiary education, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 10 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release