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 13.3% in 2017. ▲ Rising

Latest (2017)
13.3%
Change on year
up 176.8%
World rank
34th
of 74 countries
All-time high
13.3%
in 2017
All-time low
4.8%
in 2014
Years of data
17
1970–2017

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

0510151970199320171970: 5.11985: 4.92001: 6.62002: 7.12003: 6.42004: 72005: 6.62006: 6.32007: 6.82008: 6.12009: 62010: 62011: 5.72012: 5.52014: 4.82015: 4.82017: 13.3

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

In 2017, uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in South Africa stood at 13.3%. That is the highest value across all 17 years on record.

The figure is up 176.8% on the previous year and up 96.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in South Africa peaked at 13.3% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 4.8%, in 2014.

That places South Africa 34th out of 74 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 17 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 primary, male in South Africa, 1970 to 2017.
Year Value Change
1970 5.1%
1985 4.9% -5.3%
2001 6.6% +35.8%
2002 7.1% +7.6%
2003 6.4% -10.0%
2004 7.0% +9.1%
2005 6.6% -5.8%
2006 6.3% -3.5%
2007 6.8% +7.1%
2008 6.1% -10.2%
2009 6.0% -2.0%
2010 6.0% +1.0%
2011 5.7% -6.2%
2012 5.5% -2.2%
2014 4.8% -13.6%
2015 4.8% +0.7%
2017 13.3% +176.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 5.1% 5.1% 5.1% 1
1980s 4.9% 4.9% 4.9% 1
2000s 6.5% 6.0% 7.1% 9
2010s 6.7% 4.8% 13.3% 6

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 31 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 14.1% compare
  2. 32 Italy 14.0% compare
  3. 33 Malta 13.6% compare
  4. 35 Cyprus 13.3% compare
  5. 36 Spain 13.1% compare
  6. 37 Cambodia 12.3% compare

See the full ranking of 74 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 13.3% 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 13.3% in 2017.
What is the lowest uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 4.8% in 2014.
How does South Africa rank for uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of?
South Africa ranks 34th out of 74 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 up 96.1%. 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 UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of education is primary, male. 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 07 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/uis-percentage-of-population-age-25-whose-highest-level-of-education-is-primary-male/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of education is primary, male
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
74 places, 803 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

The percentage of male population (age 25 and over) with completed primary (ISCED 1) as the highest level of educational attainment. This indicator is calculated by dividing the number of males aged 25 years and above who completed primary education as the highest level of educational attainment by the total male 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/