Share of the population with tertiary education in South Africa
South Africa: Share of the population with tertiary education was 5.4% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of the population with tertiary education in South Africa, 1870–2020
Source: Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of the population with tertiary education in South Africa stood at 5.4%.
That represents a change of down 14.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population with tertiary education in South Africa peaked at 9.4% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1870.
South Africa ranks 82nd of 111 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.
Share of the population with tertiary education in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.0% | — |
| 1875 | 0.0% | — |
| 1880 | 0.0% | — |
| 1885 | 0.0% | — |
| 1890 | 0.0% | — |
| 1895 | 0.0% | — |
| 1900 | 0.0% | — |
| 1905 | 0.0% | — |
| 1910 | 0.0% | — |
| 1915 | 0.1% | — |
| 1920 | 0.6% | +500.0% |
| 1925 | 1.1% | +83.3% |
| 1930 | 1.5% | +36.4% |
| 1935 | 2.0% | +33.3% |
| 1940 | 2.4% | +20.0% |
| 1945 | 2.8% | +16.7% |
| 1950 | 3.0% | +7.1% |
| 1955 | 3.2% | +6.7% |
| 1960 | 3.2% | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 3.6% | +12.5% |
| 1970 | 3.8% | +5.6% |
| 1975 | 2.6% | -31.6% |
| 1980 | 1.4% | -46.2% |
| 1985 | 2.4% | +71.4% |
| 1990 | 5.4% | +125.0% |
| 1995 | 9.4% | +74.1% |
| 2000 | 9.3% | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 7.9% | -15.1% |
| 2010 | 6.3% | -20.3% |
| 2015 | 5.3% | -15.9% |
| 2020 | 5.4% | +1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1880s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1890s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1900s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1910s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 2 |
| 1920s | 0.9% | 0.6% | 1.1% | 2 |
| 1930s | 1.8% | 1.5% | 2.0% | 2 |
| 1940s | 2.6% | 2.4% | 2.8% | 2 |
| 1950s | 3.1% | 3.0% | 3.2% | 2 |
| 1960s | 3.4% | 3.2% | 3.6% | 2 |
| 1970s | 3.2% | 2.6% | 3.8% | 2 |
| 1980s | 1.9% | 1.4% | 2.4% | 2 |
| 1990s | 7.4% | 5.4% | 9.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 8.6% | 7.9% | 9.3% | 2 |
| 2010s | 5.8% | 5.3% | 6.3% | 2 |
| 2020s | 5.4% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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 share of the population with tertiary education in South Africa?
- Share of the population with tertiary education in South Africa was 5.4% in 2020, according to Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population with tertiary education recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 9.4% in 1995.
- What is the lowest share of the population with tertiary education recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1870.
- How does South Africa rank for share of the population with tertiary education?
- South Africa ranks 82nd out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of the population with tertiary education rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population with tertiary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the population aged 25 to 65 years who have either completed or partially completed tertiary education.