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

South Africa: UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed lower was 71.1% in 2017. ▲ Rising

Latest (2017)
71.1%
Change on year
down 5.7%
World rank
50th
of 84 countries
All-time high
75.4%
in 2015
All-time low
27.8%
in 1985
Years of data
17
1970–2017

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

0204060801970199320171970: 29.91985: 27.82001: 53.62002: 59.72003: 61.62004: 62.92005: 63.12006: 642007: 65.52008: 65.52009: 69.82010: 70.22011: 71.82012: 73.62014: 75.22015: 75.42017: 71.1

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 71.1% for uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed lower in 2017.

That represents a change of down 5.7% on the previous year and up 8.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed lower in South Africa peaked at 75.4% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 27.8%, in 1985.

South Africa ranks 50th of 84 countries on this measure, 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+ with at least completed lower in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed lower secondary education (ISCED 2 or higher). Female in South Africa, 1970 to 2017.
Year Value Change
1970 29.9%
1985 27.8% -7.3%
2001 53.6% +93.2%
2002 59.7% +11.5%
2003 61.6% +3.1%
2004 62.9% +2.1%
2005 63.1% +0.3%
2006 64.0% +1.4%
2007 65.5% +2.4%
2008 65.5% -0.1%
2009 69.8% +6.7%
2010 70.2% +0.6%
2011 71.8% +2.2%
2012 73.6% +2.6%
2014 75.2% +2.1%
2015 75.4% +0.4%
2017 71.1% -5.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 29.9% 29.9% 29.9% 1
1980s 27.8% 27.8% 27.8% 1
2000s 62.9% 53.6% 69.8% 9
2010s 72.9% 70.2% 75.4% 6

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 47 Malaysia 72.2% compare
  2. 48 Andorra 71.5% compare
  3. 49 Macau, China 71.4% compare
  4. 51 Trinidad and Tobago 68.1% compare
  5. 52 Dominican Republic 67.8% compare
  6. 53 Iran, Islamic Republic of 67.4% compare

See the full ranking of 84 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 completed lower in South Africa?
Uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed lower in South Africa was 71.1% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed lower recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 75.4% in 2015.
What is the lowest uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed lower recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 27.8% in 1985.
How does South Africa rank for uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed lower?
South Africa ranks 50th out of 84 countries with data for 2017.
Is uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed lower rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 8.6%. 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 completed lower secondary education (ISCED 2 or higher). Female. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed lower in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/uis-percentage-of-population-age-25-with-at-least-completed-lower-secondary-education-2/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed lower secondary education (ISCED 2 or higher). Female
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
84 places, 918 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

The percentage of female population (age 25 and over) with at least completed lower secondary education (ISCED 2 or higher). This indicator is calculated by dividing the number of females aged 25 years and above who completed lower secondary education 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/