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 85.9% in 2017. ▲ Rising

Latest (2017)
85.9%
Change on year
up 4.2%
World rank
47th
of 68 countries
All-time high
85.9%
in 2017
All-time low
33.6%
in 1985
Years of data
18
1970–2017

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

0204060801970199320171970: 36.41980: 39.91985: 33.62001: 62.32002: 68.72003: 70.82004: 71.52005: 72.22006: 732007: 74.12008: 74.42009: 782010: 78.52011: 79.12012: 81.12014: 81.82015: 82.42017: 85.9

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

The most recent figure for uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed primary in South Africa is 85.9%, measured in 2017. That is the highest value across all 18 years on record.

The figure is up 4.2% on the previous year and up 15.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed primary in South Africa peaked at 85.9% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 33.6%, in 1985.

South Africa ranks 47th of 68 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 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). Total in South Africa, 1970 to 2017.
Year Value Change
1970 36.4%
1980 39.9% +9.5%
1985 33.6% -15.7%
2001 62.3% +85.0%
2002 68.7% +10.3%
2003 70.8% +3.1%
2004 71.5% +0.9%
2005 72.2% +1.0%
2006 73.0% +1.1%
2007 74.1% +1.5%
2008 74.4% +0.3%
2009 78.0% +4.9%
2010 78.5% +0.6%
2011 79.1% +0.8%
2012 81.1% +2.5%
2014 81.8% +0.8%
2015 82.4% +0.7%
2017 85.9% +4.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 36.4% 36.4% 36.4% 1
1980s 36.8% 33.6% 39.9% 2
2000s 71.7% 62.3% 78.0% 9
2010s 81.4% 78.5% 85.9% 6

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 44 Bosnia and Herzegovina 87.6% compare
  2. 45 Chile 87.5% compare
  3. 46 Bahrain 87.0% compare
  4. 48 Philippines 84.0% compare
  5. 49 Ecuador 82.8% compare
  6. 50 Mexico 82.8% 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 85.9% 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 85.9% 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 33.6% in 1985.
How does South Africa rank for uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed primary?
South Africa ranks 47th 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 15.8%. 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 completed primary education (ISCED 1 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 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/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). Total
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
68 places, 721 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

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