UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in South Africa

South Africa: UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of was 11.0% in 2017. ▼ Falling

Latest (2017)
11.0%
Change on year
down 11.0%
World rank
62nd
of 90 countries
All-time high
28.6%
in 2001
All-time low
11.0%
in 2017
Years of data
18
1970–2017

UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in South Africa, 1970–2017

01020301970199320171970: 20.71980: 16.81985: 20.62001: 28.62002: 142003: 14.52004: 142005: 14.32006: 14.62007: 15.22008: 13.62009: 14.72010: 14.12011: 13.92012: 13.62014: 12.12015: 12.32017: 11

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

In 2017, uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in South Africa stood at 11.0%. That is the lowest value across all 18 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 11.0% on the previous year and down 27.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in South Africa peaked at 28.6% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 11.0%, in 2017.

South Africa ranks 62nd of 90 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.

UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of education is lower secondary, both sexes in South Africa, 1970 to 2017.
Year Value Change
1970 20.7%
1980 16.8% -18.9%
1985 20.6% +22.7%
2001 28.6% +38.6%
2002 14.0% -51.1%
2003 14.5% +3.9%
2004 14.0% -3.7%
2005 14.3% +2.6%
2006 14.6% +1.6%
2007 15.2% +4.2%
2008 13.6% -10.2%
2009 14.7% +7.5%
2010 14.1% -3.7%
2011 13.9% -1.3%
2012 13.6% -2.2%
2014 12.1% -11.2%
2015 12.3% +1.8%
2017 11.0% -11.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 20.7% 20.7% 20.7% 1
1980s 18.7% 16.8% 20.6% 2
2000s 15.9% 13.6% 28.6% 9
2010s 12.8% 11.0% 14.1% 6

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 59 Slovakia 12.2% compare
  2. 60 Syrian Arab Republic 12.2% compare
  3. 61 Switzerland 11.3% compare
  4. 63 Paraguay 10.7% compare
  5. 64 Mauritius 10.5% compare
  6. 65 Guatemala 10.2% compare

See the full ranking of 90 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in South Africa?
Uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in South Africa was 11.0% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 28.6% in 2001.
What is the lowest uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 11.0% in 2017.
How does South Africa rank for uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of?
South Africa ranks 62nd out of 90 countries with data for 2017.
Is uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 27.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of education is lower secondary, both sexes. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/uis-percentage-of-population-age-25-whose-highest-level-of-education-is-lower-secondary/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of education is lower secondary, both sexes
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
90 places, 991 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

The percentage of population (age 25 and over) with completed lower secondary education (ISCED 2) as the highest level of educational attainment. This indicator is calculated by dividing the number of persons aged 25 years and above who completed lower secondary education as the highest level of educational attainment by the total population of the same age group and multiplying the result by 100. The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) educational attainment dataset shows the educational composition of the population aged 25 years and above and hence the stock and quality of human capital within a country. The dataset also reflects the structure and performance of the education system and its accumulated impact on human capital formation. For more information, visit the UNESCO Institute for Statistics website: http://www.uis.unesco.org/