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

South Africa: UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed was 13.7% in 2017. ▲ Rising

Latest (2017)
13.7%
Change on year
down 9.9%
World rank
75th
of 88 countries
All-time high
15.2%
in 2015
All-time low
1.4%
in 1980
Years of data
18
1970–2017

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

0510151970199320171970: 3.71980: 1.41985: 2.32001: 8.92002: 10.32003: 10.42004: 10.92005: 112006: 10.32007: 10.92008: 122009: 12.22010: 12.42011: 12.72012: 13.62014: 14.62015: 15.22017: 13.7

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

In 2017, uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed in South Africa stood at 13.7%.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 9.9% on the previous year and up 26.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed in South Africa peaked at 15.2% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 1.4%, in 1980.

South Africa ranks 75th of 88 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

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 in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed post-secondary education (ISCED 4 or higher). Total in South Africa, 1970 to 2017.
Year Value Change
1970 3.7%
1980 1.4% -63.0%
1985 2.3% +69.8%
2001 8.9% +286.4%
2002 10.3% +15.5%
2003 10.4% +1.5%
2004 10.9% +4.5%
2005 11.0% +0.9%
2006 10.3% -6.0%
2007 10.9% +5.2%
2008 12.0% +10.5%
2009 12.2% +2.1%
2010 12.4% +1.3%
2011 12.7% +2.5%
2012 13.6% +6.9%
2014 14.6% +7.4%
2015 15.2% +4.0%
2017 13.7% -9.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 3.7% 3.7% 3.7% 1
1980s 1.8% 1.4% 2.3% 2
2000s 10.8% 8.9% 12.2% 9
2010s 13.7% 12.4% 15.2% 6

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 72 Tunisia 15.2% compare
  2. 73 Italy 15.0% compare
  3. 74 Ecuador 14.0% compare
  4. 76 Uruguay 13.3% compare
  5. 77 Thailand 12.9% compare
  6. 78 Mauritius 12.7% compare

See the full ranking of 88 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 in South Africa?
Uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed in South Africa was 13.7% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 15.2% in 2015.
What is the lowest uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 1.4% in 1980.
How does South Africa rank for uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed?
South Africa ranks 75th out of 88 countries with data for 2017.
Is uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 26.2%. 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 post-secondary education (ISCED 4 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 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-with-at-least-completed-post-secondary-education/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed post-secondary education (ISCED 4 or higher). Total
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
88 places, 944 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

The percentage of population (age 25 and over) with at least completed post-secondary education (ISCED 4 or higher). This indicator is calculated by dividing the number of persons aged 25 years and above with completed post-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/