School completion, annual growth rate in South Africa
South Africa: School completion, annual growth rate was 0.2374 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
School completion, annual growth rate in South Africa, 1982–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school completion, annual growth rate in South Africa is 0.2374 % change on previous year, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 4.3% on the previous year and down 50.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school completion, annual growth rate in South Africa peaked at 2.01 % change on previous year in 1983 and was at its lowest, 0.2276 % change on previous year, in 2024.
South Africa ranks 70th of 165 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
School completion, annual growth rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 1.78 % change on previous year | — |
| 1983 | 2.01 % change on previous year | +12.7% |
| 1984 | 1.94 % change on previous year | -3.4% |
| 1985 | 1.84 % change on previous year | -5.5% |
| 1986 | 1.67 % change on previous year | -9.2% |
| 1987 | 1.69 % change on previous year | +1.6% |
| 1988 | 1.67 % change on previous year | -1.7% |
| 1989 | 1.57 % change on previous year | -5.5% |
| 1990 | 1.41 % change on previous year | -10.4% |
| 1991 | 1.24 % change on previous year | -12.1% |
| 1992 | 1.1 % change on previous year | -11.2% |
| 1993 | 0.9911 % change on previous year | -10.0% |
| 1994 | 1.03 % change on previous year | +3.9% |
| 1995 | 0.9114 % change on previous year | -11.5% |
| 1996 | 0.8556 % change on previous year | -6.1% |
| 1997 | 0.813 % change on previous year | -5.0% |
| 1998 | 0.6779 % change on previous year | -16.6% |
| 1999 | 0.5688 % change on previous year | -16.1% |
| 2000 | 0.6118 % change on previous year | +7.6% |
| 2001 | 0.5392 % change on previous year | -11.9% |
| 2002 | 0.5478 % change on previous year | +1.6% |
| 2003 | 0.5561 % change on previous year | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 0.7111 % change on previous year | +27.9% |
| 2005 | 0.6948 % change on previous year | -2.3% |
| 2006 | 0.7234 % change on previous year | +4.1% |
| 2007 | 0.7182 % change on previous year | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 0.6363 % change on previous year | -11.4% |
| 2009 | 0.4361 % change on previous year | -31.5% |
| 2010 | 0.3256 % change on previous year | -25.3% |
| 2011 | 0.2488 % change on previous year | -23.6% |
| 2012 | 0.3777 % change on previous year | +51.8% |
| 2013 | 0.4516 % change on previous year | +19.5% |
| 2014 | 0.503 % change on previous year | +11.4% |
| 2015 | 0.4792 % change on previous year | -4.7% |
| 2016 | 0.3604 % change on previous year | -24.8% |
| 2017 | 0.3485 % change on previous year | -3.3% |
| 2018 | 0.2947 % change on previous year | -15.4% |
| 2019 | 0.3148 % change on previous year | +6.8% |
| 2020 | 0.2929 % change on previous year | -7.0% |
| 2021 | 0.2816 % change on previous year | -3.9% |
| 2022 | 0.2704 % change on previous year | -4.0% |
| 2023 | 0.2593 % change on previous year | -4.1% |
| 2024 | 0.2276 % change on previous year | -12.2% |
| 2025 | 0.2374 % change on previous year | +4.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.2374 % change on previous year is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.0766 % change on previous year, 3.1× the median. (50 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.2374 % change on previous year is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.02 % change on previous year, 23% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.77 % change on previous year | 1.57 % change on previous year | 2.01 % change on previous year | 8 |
| 1990s | 0.9598 % change on previous year | 0.5688 % change on previous year | 1.41 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.6175 % change on previous year | 0.4361 % change on previous year | 0.7234 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3704 % change on previous year | 0.2488 % change on previous year | 0.503 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2615 % change on previous year | 0.2276 % change on previous year | 0.2929 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 67 Tunisia 0.3001 % change on previous year compare
- 68 Philippines 0.2815 % change on previous year compare
- 69 Iran 0.2383 % change on previous year compare
- 71 Algeria 0.2076 % change on previous year compare
- 72 Peru 0.1838 % change on previous year compare
- 73 Panama 0.1685 % change on previous year 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 school completion, annual growth rate in South Africa?
- School completion, annual growth rate in South Africa was 0.2374 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest school completion, annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 2.01 % change on previous year in 1983.
- What is the lowest school completion, annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2276 % change on previous year in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for school completion, annual growth rate?
- South Africa ranks 70th out of 165 countries with data for 2025.
- Is school completion, annual growth rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 50.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of School completion, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 44 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in School completion. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Share of children who have completed primary school UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in School completion. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.