UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least a completed in South Africa

South Africa: UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least a completed was 12.0% in 2017. ▲ Rising

Latest (2017)
12.0%
Change on year
up 62.2%
World rank
61st
of 70 countries
All-time high
12.0%
in 2017
All-time low
1.5%
in 1985
Years of data
16
1970–2017

UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least a completed in South Africa, 1970–2017

2.557.51012.51970199320171970: 3.11985: 1.52002: 3.92003: 4.62004: 4.32005: 3.52006: 3.52007: 3.72008: 4.22009: 5.42010: 5.62011: 5.62012: 5.82014: 6.72015: 7.42017: 12

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 12.0% for uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least a completed in 2017. That is the highest value across all 16 years on record.

That represents a change of up 62.2% on the previous year and up 220.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least a completed in South Africa peaked at 12.0% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 1.5%, in 1985.

South Africa ranks 61st of 70 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 16 years of available data.

UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least a completed in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least a completed short-cycle tertiary degree (ISCED 5 or higher). Female in South Africa, 1970 to 2017.
Year Value Change
1970 3.1%
1985 1.5% -50.6%
2002 3.9% +158.1%
2003 4.6% +18.1%
2004 4.3% -6.4%
2005 3.5% -20.4%
2006 3.5% +0.9%
2007 3.7% +7.2%
2008 4.2% +13.7%
2009 5.4% +28.3%
2010 5.6% +2.1%
2011 5.6% +1.5%
2012 5.8% +3.3%
2014 6.7% +15.6%
2015 7.4% +9.6%
2017 12.0% +62.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 3.1% 3.1% 3.1% 1
1980s 1.5% 1.5% 1.5% 1
2000s 4.2% 3.5% 5.4% 8
2010s 7.2% 5.6% 12.0% 6

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 58 Italy 15.1% compare
  2. 59 Tunisia 14.8% compare
  3. 60 Romania 14.7% compare
  4. 62 Kuwait 11.2% compare
  5. 63 Bosnia and Herzegovina 10.1% compare
  6. 64 Honduras 10.1% compare

See the full ranking of 70 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least a completed in South Africa?
Uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least a completed in South Africa was 12.0% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least a completed recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 12.0% in 2017.
What is the lowest uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least a completed recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 1.5% in 1985.
How does South Africa rank for uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least a completed?
South Africa ranks 61st out of 70 countries with data for 2017.
Is uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least a completed rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 220.8%. 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+ with at least a completed short-cycle tertiary degree (ISCED 5 or higher). Female. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least a completed 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-with-at-least-a-completed-short-cycle-tertiary-degree-2/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least a completed short-cycle tertiary degree (ISCED 5 or higher). Female
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
70 places, 744 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

The percentage of female population (age 25 and over) with a completed short-cycle tertiary degree (ISCED 5) or higher. This indicator is calculated by dividing the number of females aged 25 years and above who completed a short-cycle tertiary degree by the total female 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/