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

South Africa: UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed primary was 84.8% in 2017. ▲ Rising

Latest (2017)
84.8%
Change on year
up 4.9%
World rank
44th
of 68 countries
All-time high
84.8%
in 2017
All-time low
32.4%
in 1985
Years of data
17
1970–2017

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

0204060801970199320171970: 35.61985: 32.42001: 60.32002: 672003: 68.72004: 702005: 702006: 70.92007: 72.32008: 722009: 75.92010: 76.52011: 77.92012: 79.52014: 80.62015: 80.92017: 84.8

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

In 2017, uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed primary in South Africa stood at 84.8%. That is the highest value across all 17 years on record.

That represents a change of up 4.9% on the previous year and up 17.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed primary in South Africa peaked at 84.8% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 32.4%, in 1985.

That places South Africa 44th out of 68 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+ with at least completed primary in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed primary education (ISCED 1 or higher). Female in South Africa, 1970 to 2017.
Year Value Change
1970 35.6%
1985 32.4% -8.9%
2001 60.3% +86.1%
2002 67.0% +11.1%
2003 68.7% +2.5%
2004 70.0% +1.9%
2005 70.0% -0.0%
2006 70.9% +1.3%
2007 72.3% +2.0%
2008 72.0% -0.5%
2009 75.9% +5.4%
2010 76.5% +0.9%
2011 77.9% +1.8%
2012 79.5% +2.0%
2014 80.6% +1.4%
2015 80.9% +0.3%
2017 84.8% +4.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 35.6% 35.6% 35.6% 1
1980s 32.4% 32.4% 32.4% 1
2000s 69.7% 60.3% 75.9% 9
2010s 80.1% 76.5% 84.8% 6

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 41 Macau, China 87.8% compare
  2. 42 Chile 86.8% compare
  3. 43 Philippines 85.8% compare
  4. 45 Singapore 84.8% compare
  5. 46 Türkiye 83.6% compare
  6. 47 Bahrain 83.0% compare

See the full ranking of 68 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 primary in South Africa?
Uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed primary in South Africa was 84.8% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed primary recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 84.8% in 2017.
What is the lowest uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed primary recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 32.4% in 1985.
How does South Africa rank for uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed primary?
South Africa ranks 44th out of 68 countries with data for 2017.
Is uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed primary rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 17.3%. 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 primary education (ISCED 1 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 primary in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/uis-percentage-of-population-age-25-with-at-least-completed-primary-education-isced-1-or-2/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed primary education (ISCED 1 or higher). Female
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
68 places, 717 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

The percentage of female population (age 25 and over) with at least completed primary education (ISCED 1 or higher). This indicator is calculated by dividing the number of females aged 25 years and above who completed primary 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/