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 72.3% in 2017. ▲ Rising

Latest (2017)
72.3%
Change on year
down 6.3%
World rank
49th
of 86 countries
All-time high
77.2%
in 2015
All-time low
28.1%
in 1980
Years of data
18
1970–2017

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

0204060801970199320171970: 31.11980: 28.11985: 28.92001: 55.62002: 61.42003: 642004: 64.42005: 65.42006: 66.42007: 67.32008: 682009: 71.92010: 72.22011: 73.12012: 75.32014: 76.62015: 77.22017: 72.3

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

In 2017, uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed lower in South Africa stood at 72.3%.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.3% on the previous year and up 7.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed lower in South Africa peaked at 77.2% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 28.1%, in 1980.

South Africa ranks 49th of 86 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 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). Total in South Africa, 1970 to 2017.
Year Value Change
1970 31.1%
1980 28.1% -9.4%
1985 28.9% +2.7%
2001 55.6% +92.5%
2002 61.4% +10.5%
2003 64.0% +4.3%
2004 64.4% +0.5%
2005 65.4% +1.6%
2006 66.4% +1.4%
2007 67.3% +1.4%
2008 68.0% +1.1%
2009 71.9% +5.8%
2010 72.2% +0.5%
2011 73.1% +1.2%
2012 75.3% +3.0%
2014 76.6% +1.7%
2015 77.2% +0.8%
2017 72.3% -6.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 31.1% 31.1% 31.1% 1
1980s 28.5% 28.1% 28.9% 2
2000s 64.9% 55.6% 71.9% 9
2010s 74.5% 72.2% 77.2% 6

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 46 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 74.4% compare
  2. 47 Malaysia 74.2% compare
  3. 48 Macau, China 73.3% compare
  4. 50 Andorra 72.3% compare
  5. 51 Iran, Islamic Republic of 69.8% compare
  6. 52 Qatar 68.0% compare

See the full ranking of 86 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 72.3% 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 77.2% 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 28.1% in 1980.
How does South Africa rank for uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed lower?
South Africa ranks 49th out of 86 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 7.5%. 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). Total. 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/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). Total
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
86 places, 935 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

The percentage of 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 persons aged 25 years and above with completed lower secondary education 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/