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

South Africa: UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed upper was 60.5% in 2017. ▲ Rising

Latest (2017)
60.5%
Change on year
down 3.7%
World rank
43rd
of 77 countries
All-time high
62.8%
in 2014
All-time low
7.8%
in 1985
Years of data
17
1970–2017

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

02040601970199320171970: 9.11985: 7.82001: 25.42002: 45.52003: 47.22004: 48.62005: 48.82006: 49.22007: 502008: 51.62009: 55.32010: 56.12011: 582012: 59.82014: 62.82015: 62.82017: 60.5

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

The most recent figure for uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed upper in South Africa is 60.5%, measured in 2017.

The figure is down 3.7% on the previous year and up 20.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed upper in South Africa peaked at 62.8% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 7.8%, in 1985.

South Africa ranks 43rd of 77 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 upper in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed upper secondary education (ISCED 3 or higher). Female in South Africa, 1970 to 2017.
Year Value Change
1970 9.1%
1985 7.8% -14.4%
2001 25.4% +227.1%
2002 45.5% +79.4%
2003 47.2% +3.7%
2004 48.6% +3.1%
2005 48.8% +0.4%
2006 49.2% +0.8%
2007 50.0% +1.7%
2008 51.6% +3.3%
2009 55.3% +7.0%
2010 56.1% +1.4%
2011 58.0% +3.4%
2012 59.8% +3.2%
2014 62.8% +5.0%
2015 62.8% -0.0%
2017 60.5% -3.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 9.1% 9.1% 9.1% 1
1980s 7.8% 7.8% 7.8% 1
2000s 46.8% 25.4% 55.3% 9
2010s 60.0% 56.1% 62.8% 6

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 40 Bahrain 62.9% compare
  2. 41 Romania 62.6% compare
  3. 42 Hong Kong, China 61.6% compare
  4. 44 Philippines 60.1% compare
  5. 45 Qatar 60.1% compare
  6. 46 Malaysia 58.6% compare

See the full ranking of 77 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 upper in South Africa?
Uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed upper in South Africa was 60.5% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed upper recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 62.8% in 2014.
What is the lowest uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed upper recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 7.8% in 1985.
How does South Africa rank for uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed upper?
South Africa ranks 43rd out of 77 countries with data for 2017.
Is uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed upper rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 20.9%. 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 upper secondary education (ISCED 3 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 upper 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-upper-secondary-education-2/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed upper secondary education (ISCED 3 or higher). Female
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
77 places, 850 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

The percentage of female population (age 25 and over) with at least completed upper secondary education (ISCED 3 or higher). This indicator is calculated by dividing the number of females aged 25 years and above who completed upper 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/