Percentage of graduates from Science, Technology, Engineering and in South Africa
South Africa: Percentage of graduates from Science, Technology, Engineering and was 13.3% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
13.3%
Change on year
up 2.0%
World rank
66th
of 122 countries
All-time high
13.8%
in 2021
All-time low
12.7%
in 2016
Years of data
10
2014–2023
Percentage of graduates from Science, Technology, Engineering and in South Africa, 2014–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for percentage of graduates from science, technology, engineering and in South Africa is 13.3%, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 2.0% on the previous year and down 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of graduates from science, technology, engineering and in South Africa peaked at 13.8% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 12.7%, in 2016.
That places South Africa 66th out of 122 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Percentage of graduates from Science, Technology, Engineering and in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 13.3% | — |
| 2015 | 13.4% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 12.7% | -5.3% |
| 2017 | 12.9% | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 12.8% | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 12.9% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 12.7% | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 13.8% | +8.5% |
| 2022 | 13.1% | -5.5% |
| 2023 | 13.3% | +2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 13.0% | 12.7% | 13.4% | 6 |
| 2020s | 13.2% | 12.7% | 13.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 63 Honduras 13.8% compare
- 64 Palestine, State of 13.7% compare
- 65 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 13.7% compare
- 67 Kazakhstan 13.1% compare
- 68 Switzerland 13.1% compare
- 69 Lao People's Democratic Republic 13.0% compare
More education data for South Africa
- 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)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 1.19 million (2023)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is percentage of graduates from science, technology, engineering and in South Africa?
- Percentage of graduates from science, technology, engineering and in South Africa was 13.3% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest percentage of graduates from science, technology, engineering and recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 13.8% in 2021.
- What is the lowest percentage of graduates from science, technology, engineering and recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.7% in 2016.
- How does South Africa rank for percentage of graduates from science, technology, engineering and?
- South Africa ranks 66th out of 122 countries with data for 2023.
- Is percentage of graduates from science, technology, engineering and rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Percentage of graduates from Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics programmes in tertiary education, female (%). 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