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

South Africa: UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least some primary was 95.3% in 2017. ▲ Rising

Latest (2017)
95.3%
Change on year
down 0.7%
World rank
46th
of 70 countries
All-time high
96.0%
in 2014
All-time low
57.8%
in 1970
Years of data
18
1970–2017

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

0204060801001970199320171970: 57.81980: 67.91985: 75.22001: 79.82002: 88.92003: 89.42004: 89.62005: 902006: 89.42007: 90.92008: 91.22009: 92.72010: 92.92011: 93.42012: 94.72014: 962015: 95.92017: 95.3

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

The most recent figure for uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least some primary in South Africa is 95.3%, measured in 2017.

The figure is down 0.7% on the previous year and up 4.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least some primary in South Africa peaked at 96.0% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 57.8%, in 1970.

South Africa ranks 46th of 70 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 some primary in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least some primary (ISCED 1). Total in South Africa, 1970 to 2017.
Year Value Change
1970 57.8%
1980 67.9% +17.5%
1985 75.2% +10.7%
2001 79.8% +6.0%
2002 88.9% +11.4%
2003 89.4% +0.6%
2004 89.6% +0.1%
2005 90.0% +0.5%
2006 89.4% -0.6%
2007 90.9% +1.7%
2008 91.2% +0.3%
2009 92.7% +1.7%
2010 92.9% +0.2%
2011 93.4% +0.6%
2012 94.7% +1.3%
2014 96.0% +1.4%
2015 95.9% -0.1%
2017 95.3% -0.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 57.8% 57.8% 57.8% 1
1980s 71.6% 67.9% 75.2% 2
2000s 89.1% 79.8% 92.7% 9
2010s 94.7% 92.9% 96.0% 6

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 43 United Arab Emirates 95.8% compare
  2. 44 Kuwait 95.5% compare
  3. 45 Hong Kong, China 95.4% compare
  4. 47 Türkiye 95.2% compare
  5. 48 Peru 95.1% compare
  6. 49 Mauritius 94.6% compare

See the full ranking of 70 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 some primary in South Africa?
Uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least some primary in South Africa was 95.3% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least some primary recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 96.0% in 2014.
What is the lowest uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least some primary recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 57.8% in 1970.
How does South Africa rank for uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least some primary?
South Africa ranks 46th out of 70 countries with data for 2017.
Is uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least some primary rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 4.8%. 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 some primary (ISCED 1). Total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least some primary in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/uis-percentage-of-population-age-25-with-at-least-some-primary-isced-1-total/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least some primary (ISCED 1). Total
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
70 places, 719 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

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