In South Africa, the share of adults with tertiary attainment reaches 8.5% (OECD average : 42.7%), while the share of adults with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary attainment stands at 42.8% (OECD average : 39.9%) and 48.7% of 25-64 year-olds reached below upper secondary education (OECD average : 17.9%).
The unemployment rate among tertiary-educated young adults stands at 15.7% in 2025 (OECD average : 5%), while it is equal to 46.7% for 25-34 year-olds without an upper secondary education (OECD average : 13.9%).
Some 48% of all 18-24 year-olds were not in employment, education or training (NEET) in 2025 (OECD average : 14.1%), while 54.6% of 25-29 year-olds were NEET (OECD average : 16.3%).
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The following list displays indicators for which your selected country shows the highest and lowest values among countries.
The list can be sorted by level of education or by age group. All rankings are calculated including available data from OECD
and partner countries.
Find out more about the methodology here.
Show indicators for which your country ranks among the top or bottom:
Sort by:
3 years
The percentage of three-year-olds in early childhood education in South Africa is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(0 %, rank 42/44
, 2024) Download Indicator
4 years
The percentage of four-year-olds in early childhood and primary education in South Africa is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(0 %, rank 42/43
, 2024) Download Indicator
5 years
The percentage of five-year-olds in early childhood education in South Africa is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(0 %, rank 41/44
, 2024) Download Indicator
15-29 years
The proportion of youth neither employed nor in education or training among 15-29 year-olds in South Africa is one of the largest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(41.6 %, rank 1/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
18-24 years
The share of inactive youth neither in formal education nor training among 18-24 year-olds in South Africa is one of the largest among countries with available data.
(26 %, rank 1/38
, 2025) Download Indicator
The share of unemployed youth neither in formal education nor training among 18-24 year-olds in South Africa is one of the largest among countries with available data.
(48 %, rank 1/38
, 2025) Download Indicator
The proportion of 18-24 year-olds who are neither employed nor in education or training is comparatively large in South Africa.
(48 %, rank 1/38
, 2025) Download Indicator
The percentage of 18-24 year-old men neither employed nor in education or training is one of the highest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data.
(45.9 %, rank 1/38
, 2025) Download Indicator
The percentage of 18-24 year-old women neither employed nor in education or training is one of the highest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data.
(50.2 %, rank 1/37
, 2025) Download Indicator
25-29 years
The share of 25-29 year-olds neither in employment nor in education and training with tertiary education in South Africa is relatively high.
(35.6 %, rank 1/38
, 2025) Download Indicator
The share of youth neither employed nor in education or training among 25-29 year-olds in South Africa is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(54.6 %, rank 1/38
, 2025) Download Indicator
25-34 years
The level of below upper secondary attainment among 25-34 year-olds is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(42.2 %, rank 1/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The level of tertiary attainment among 25-34 year-olds is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(8.6 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The unemployment rate among 25-34 year-olds with below upper secondary education is comparatively high across surveyed countries.
(46.7 %, rank 1/38
, 2025) Download Indicator
The unemployment rate among 25-34 year-olds with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is comparatively high across surveyed countries.
(38.5 %, rank 1/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The unemployment rate among 25-34 year-olds with tertiary education is comparatively high across surveyed countries.
(15.7 %, rank 1/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The proportion of 25-34 year-old men who have attained tertiary education is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(7.4 %, rank 41/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The proportion of 25-34 year-old women who have attained tertiary education is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(10 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The share of 25-34 year-old men who attained below upper secondary education in South Africa is one of the largest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(45.7 %, rank 1/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The share of 25-34 year-old women who attained below upper secondary education in South Africa is one of the largest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(38.5 %, rank 2/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-34 year-old men with below upper secondary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(42.2 %, rank 38/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-34 year-old men with tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(83.3 %, rank 37/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-34 year-old men with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(54.2 %, rank 40/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-34 year-olds with below upper secondary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(35 %, rank 38/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-34 year-olds with tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(76.7 %, rank 39/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-34 year-olds with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(47.4 %, rank 40/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-34 year-old women with tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(71.7 %, rank 37/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-34 year-old women with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(41.1 %, rank 39/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The unemployment rate among 25-34 year-old men with below upper secondary education is relatively high in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(41.8 %, rank 1/38
, 2025) Download Indicator
The unemployment rate among 25-34 year-old men with tertiary education is relatively high in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(11.6 %, rank 1/38
, 2025) Download Indicator
The unemployment rate among 25-34 year-old women with below upper secondary education is relatively high in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(54.2 %, rank 1/35
, 2025) Download Indicator
The unemployment rate among 25-34 year-old women with tertiary education is relatively high in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(19 %, rank 1/38
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-34 year-olds with a short-cycle tertiary education is relatively low compared to other OECD and partner countries.
(54.9 %, rank 28/28
, 2025) Download Indicator
The level of short-cycle tertiary attainment among 25-34 year-olds is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(0.9 %, rank 26/30
, 2025) Download Indicator
In South Africa, the share of 25-34 year-olds who attained a bachelor's or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the smallest among countries with available data.
(7.1 %, rank 38/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
In South Africa, the share of 25-34 year-olds who attained a master's or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the smallest among countries with available data.
(0.6 %, rank 37/37
, 2025) Download Indicator
Compared to other countries with available data, the employment rate of 25-34 year-olds with a master's or equivalent tertiary education degree is relatively low in South Africa.
(81 %, rank 34/36
, 2025) Download Indicator
In South Africa, the proportion of young women's earnings as a percentage of men's earnings (25-34 year-olds with tertiary education working full-time full-year), is relatively low compared to OECD and other members with available data.
(74.4 %, rank 28/29
, 2024) Download Indicator
The earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (25-34 year-olds without an upper secondary education working full-time full-year) are among the lowest across countries with available data.
(74.9 %, rank 23/25
, 2024) Download Indicator
35-44 years
The proportion of 35-44 year-old men who have attained tertiary education is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(7.8 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The proportion of 35-44 year-old women who have attained tertiary education is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(9.2 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 35-44 year-olds without upper secondary education is comparatively low.
(45.5 %, rank 38/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 35-44 year-olds with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is comparatively low.
(62 %, rank 40/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 35-44 year-olds with a short-cycle tertiary education is comparatively low.
(76.8 %, rank 27/29
, 2025) Download Indicator
45-54 years
The proportion of 45-54 year-old men who have attained tertiary education is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(8.5 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The proportion of 45-54 year-old women who have attained tertiary education is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(9.1 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 45-54 year-olds without upper secondary education is comparatively low.
(46 %, rank 38/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 45-54 year-olds with tertiary education is comparatively low.
(83.8 %, rank 38/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 45-54 year-olds with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is comparatively low.
(66.4 %, rank 39/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 45-54 year-olds with a short-cycle tertiary education is comparatively low.
(73.9 %, rank 28/29
, 2025) Download Indicator
Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (45-54 year-olds without an upper secondary education working full-time full-year) are among the lowest across countries with available data.
(64.4 %, rank 26/26
, 2024) Download Indicator
Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (45-54 year-olds with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education working full-time full-year) are among the lowest across countries with available data.
(70.8 %, rank 26/29
, 2024) Download Indicator
Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (45-54 year-olds with tertiary education working full-time full-year) are among the lowest across countries with available data.
(69.6 %, rank 25/29
, 2024) Download Indicator
In South Africa, the relative earnings for 45-54 year-old workers with below upper secondary attainment are low compared to workers with upper secondary attainment.
(52 Index, rank 29/29
, 2024) Download Indicator
55-64 years
The level of tertiary attainment among 55-64 year-olds is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(7.6 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The proportion of 55-64 year-old men who have attained tertiary education is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(8 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The proportion of 55-64 year-old women who have attained tertiary education is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(7.3 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 55-64 year-old men with below upper secondary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(34.6 %, rank 37/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 55-64 year-old men with tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(54.8 %, rank 40/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 55-64 year-old men with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(55.7 %, rank 39/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 55-64 year-olds with below upper secondary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(28.3 %, rank 38/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 55-64 year-olds with tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(48 %, rank 40/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 55-64 year-olds with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(49.9 %, rank 38/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 55-64 year-old women with below upper secondary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(23.6 %, rank 37/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 55-64 year-old women with tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(41.9 %, rank 39/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The unemployment rate among 55-64 year-old women with tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(1 %, rank 32/35
, 2025) Download Indicator
The level of short-cycle tertiary attainment among 55-64 year-olds is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(0.3 %, rank 31/35
, 2025) Download Indicator
25-64 years
The level of below upper secondary attainment among 25-64 year-olds is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(48.7 %, rank 3/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The level of tertiary attainment among 25-64 year-olds is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(8.5 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The proportion of 25-64 year-old men who have attained a general degree at the tertiary level is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(7.8 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The proportion of 25-64 year-old women who have attained a general degree at the tertiary level is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(9.1 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-64 year-olds with tertiary education is comparatively low across participating countries.
(77.6 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-64 year-olds without upper secondary education is comparatively low across participating countries.
(39.5 %, rank 39/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-64 year-olds with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is comparatively low across participating countries.
(56 %, rank 41/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-64 year-old men without upper secondary education is comparatively low across participating countries.
(46.9 %, rank 38/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-64 year-old men with upper secondary or a post-secondary non-tertiary education is comparatively low across participating countries.
(62.9 %, rank 41/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-64 year-old men with tertiary education is comparatively low across participating countries.
(81.8 %, rank 41/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-64 year-old women without upper secondary education is comparatively low across participating countries.
(31.7 %, rank 36/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-64 year-old women with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is comparatively low across participating countries.
(49.5 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-64 year-old women with tertiary education is comparatively low across participating countries.
(74.1 %, rank 37/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The unemployment rate among 25-64 year-olds without upper secondary education is comparatively high across surveyed countries.
(35.8 %, rank 2/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The unemployment rate among 25-64 year-olds with tertiary education is comparatively high across surveyed countries.
(9.8 %, rank 1/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The earnings of men without an upper secondary education are relatively low compared to those of men with an upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education.
(52 Index, rank 29/29
, 2024) Download Indicator
The earnings of women without an upper secondary education are relatively low compared to those of women with an upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education.
(52 Index, rank 29/29
, 2024) Download Indicator
The proportional difference in earnings between 25-64 year-old adults with tertiary education and those with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is quite substantial.
(306 Index, rank 1/29
, 2024) Download Indicator
Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (among 25-64 year-olds without an upper secondary education with income from employment) are one of the lowest among countries with available data.
(68.5 %, rank 27/29
, 2024) Download Indicator
Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (among 25-64 year-olds with tertiary education and income from employment) are one of the lowest among countries with available data.
(70 %, rank 28/29
, 2024) Download Indicator
In South Africa, the percentage of 25-64 year-olds who attained a bachelor's or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the lowest among countries with available data.
(6.8 %, rank 36/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
In South Africa, the share of 25-64 year-old men who attained a bachelor's or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the smallest among countries with available data.
(6 %, rank 35/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The share of 25-64 year-old women who attained a bachelor's or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the smallest among countries with available data.
(7.6 %, rank 38/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
South Africa has one of the lowest percentages of 25-64 year-olds whose highest education level is a master's or equivalent tertiary education degree.
(1.1 %, rank 37/37
, 2025) Download Indicator
South Africa has one of the smallest shares of 25-64 year-old men whose highest education level is a master's or equivalent tertiary education degree.
(1.1 %, rank 37/37
, 2025) Download Indicator
South Africa has one of the smallest shares of 25-64 year-old women whose highest education level is a master's or equivalent tertiary education degree.
(1.1 %, rank 37/37
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-64 year-olds with a short-cycle tertiary education degree is low compared to other OECD and partner countries.
(64.2 %, rank 33/33
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-64 year-olds with a bachelor's or equivalent tertiary education degree is low compared to other OECD and partner countries.
(77.8 %, rank 38/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-64 year-olds with a master's or equivalent tertiary education degree is low compared to other OECD and partner countries.
(84.5 %, rank 36/37
, 2025) Download Indicator
Earnings of 25-64 year-old full- and part-time workers with a short cycle tertiary education degree are comparatively high across surveyed countries.
(153 %, rank 1/24
, 2024) Download Indicator
Earnings of 25-64 year-old full- and part-time workers with a bachelor's or equivalent education are comparatively high across surveyed countries.
(309.9 %, rank 1/25
, 2024) Download Indicator
Earnings of 25-64 year-old full- and part-time workers with a master's, doctoral or equivalent education degree are comparatively high across surveyed countries.
(395.7 %, rank 1/25
, 2024) Download Indicator
Compared to other countries with available data, earnings of 25-64 year-olds full- and part-time with below secondary education compared to those of adults with an upper secondary education are relatively low in South Africa.
(49.2 %, rank 30/30
, 2024) Download Indicator
Compared to other countries with available data, earnings of 25-64 year-olds with below secondary education compared to those of adults with an upper secondary education are relatively low in South Africa.
(53.4 %, rank 29/29
, 2024) Download Indicator
Age unknown or not allocated by age
In South Africa, government expenditure from initial source of funds on primary, secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary education per student is relatively low.
(3240 USD Equivalent, rank 41/42
, 2023) Download Indicator
In South Africa, government expenditure on public educational institutions per full-time equivalent student from primary to tertiary education is relatively low among OECD and partner countries.
(3414 USD Equivalent, rank 41/42
, 2023) Download Indicator
In South Africa, government expenditure per full-time equivalent student on public tertiary educationial institutions is relatively smallest.
(5460 USD Equivalent, rank 37/41
, 2023) Download Indicator
Early childhood education and care
The percentage of three-year-olds in early childhood education in South Africa is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(0 %, rank 42/44
, 2024) Download Indicator
The percentage of four-year-olds in early childhood and primary education in South Africa is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(0 %, rank 42/43
, 2024) Download Indicator
The percentage of five-year-olds in early childhood education in South Africa is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(0 %, rank 41/44
, 2024) Download Indicator
Primary to tertiary
In South Africa, government expenditure on public educational institutions per full-time equivalent student from primary to tertiary education is relatively low among OECD and partner countries.
(3414 USD Equivalent, rank 41/42
, 2023) Download Indicator
Primary, secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary education
In South Africa, government expenditure from initial source of funds on primary, secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary education per student is relatively low.
(3240 USD Equivalent, rank 41/42
, 2023) Download Indicator
Below upper secondary
The level of below upper secondary attainment among 25-34 year-olds is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(42.2 %, rank 1/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The level of below upper secondary attainment among 25-64 year-olds is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(48.7 %, rank 3/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-64 year-olds without upper secondary education is comparatively low across participating countries.
(39.5 %, rank 39/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-64 year-old men without upper secondary education is comparatively low across participating countries.
(46.9 %, rank 38/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-64 year-old women without upper secondary education is comparatively low across participating countries.
(31.7 %, rank 36/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The unemployment rate among 25-34 year-olds with below upper secondary education is comparatively high across surveyed countries.
(46.7 %, rank 1/38
, 2025) Download Indicator
The unemployment rate among 25-64 year-olds without upper secondary education is comparatively high across surveyed countries.
(35.8 %, rank 2/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The earnings of men without an upper secondary education are relatively low compared to those of men with an upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education.
(52 Index, rank 29/29
, 2024) Download Indicator
The earnings of women without an upper secondary education are relatively low compared to those of women with an upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education.
(52 Index, rank 29/29
, 2024) Download Indicator
Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (among 25-64 year-olds without an upper secondary education with income from employment) are one of the lowest among countries with available data.
(68.5 %, rank 27/29
, 2024) Download Indicator
The share of 25-34 year-old men who attained below upper secondary education in South Africa is one of the largest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(45.7 %, rank 1/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The share of 25-34 year-old women who attained below upper secondary education in South Africa is one of the largest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(38.5 %, rank 2/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-34 year-old men with below upper secondary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(42.2 %, rank 38/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-34 year-olds with below upper secondary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(35 %, rank 38/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 55-64 year-old men with below upper secondary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(34.6 %, rank 37/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 55-64 year-olds with below upper secondary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(28.3 %, rank 38/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 55-64 year-old women with below upper secondary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(23.6 %, rank 37/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The unemployment rate among 25-34 year-old men with below upper secondary education is relatively high in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(41.8 %, rank 1/38
, 2025) Download Indicator
The unemployment rate among 25-34 year-old women with below upper secondary education is relatively high in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(54.2 %, rank 1/35
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 35-44 year-olds without upper secondary education is comparatively low.
(45.5 %, rank 38/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 45-54 year-olds without upper secondary education is comparatively low.
(46 %, rank 38/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
Compared to other countries with available data, earnings of 25-64 year-olds full- and part-time with below secondary education compared to those of adults with an upper secondary education are relatively low in South Africa.
(49.2 %, rank 30/30
, 2024) Download Indicator
Compared to other countries with available data, earnings of 25-64 year-olds with below secondary education compared to those of adults with an upper secondary education are relatively low in South Africa.
(53.4 %, rank 29/29
, 2024) Download Indicator
The earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (25-34 year-olds without an upper secondary education working full-time full-year) are among the lowest across countries with available data.
(74.9 %, rank 23/25
, 2024) Download Indicator
Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (45-54 year-olds without an upper secondary education working full-time full-year) are among the lowest across countries with available data.
(64.4 %, rank 26/26
, 2024) Download Indicator
In South Africa, the relative earnings for 45-54 year-old workers with below upper secondary attainment are low compared to workers with upper secondary attainment.
(52 Index, rank 29/29
, 2024) Download Indicator
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary
The employment rate among 25-64 year-olds with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is comparatively low across participating countries.
(56 %, rank 41/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-64 year-old men with upper secondary or a post-secondary non-tertiary education is comparatively low across participating countries.
(62.9 %, rank 41/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-64 year-old women with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is comparatively low across participating countries.
(49.5 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The unemployment rate among 25-34 year-olds with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is comparatively high across surveyed countries.
(38.5 %, rank 1/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-34 year-old men with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(54.2 %, rank 40/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-34 year-olds with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(47.4 %, rank 40/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-34 year-old women with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(41.1 %, rank 39/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 55-64 year-old men with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(55.7 %, rank 39/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 55-64 year-olds with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(49.9 %, rank 38/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 35-44 year-olds with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is comparatively low.
(62 %, rank 40/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 45-54 year-olds with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is comparatively low.
(66.4 %, rank 39/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (45-54 year-olds with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education working full-time full-year) are among the lowest across countries with available data.
(70.8 %, rank 26/29
, 2024) Download Indicator
Short-cycle tertiary education
The employment rate among 25-64 year-olds with a short-cycle tertiary education degree is low compared to other OECD and partner countries.
(64.2 %, rank 33/33
, 2025) Download Indicator
Earnings of 25-64 year-old full- and part-time workers with a short cycle tertiary education degree are comparatively high across surveyed countries.
(153 %, rank 1/24
, 2024) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-34 year-olds with a short-cycle tertiary education is relatively low compared to other OECD and partner countries.
(54.9 %, rank 28/28
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 35-44 year-olds with a short-cycle tertiary education is comparatively low.
(76.8 %, rank 27/29
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 45-54 year-olds with a short-cycle tertiary education is comparatively low.
(73.9 %, rank 28/29
, 2025) Download Indicator
The level of short-cycle tertiary attainment among 25-34 year-olds is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(0.9 %, rank 26/30
, 2025) Download Indicator
The level of short-cycle tertiary attainment among 55-64 year-olds is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(0.3 %, rank 31/35
, 2025) Download Indicator
Bachelor's or equivalent level
In South Africa, the percentage of 25-64 year-olds who attained a bachelor's or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the lowest among countries with available data.
(6.8 %, rank 36/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
In South Africa, the share of 25-64 year-old men who attained a bachelor's or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the smallest among countries with available data.
(6 %, rank 35/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The share of 25-64 year-old women who attained a bachelor's or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the smallest among countries with available data.
(7.6 %, rank 38/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-64 year-olds with a bachelor's or equivalent tertiary education degree is low compared to other OECD and partner countries.
(77.8 %, rank 38/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
Earnings of 25-64 year-old full- and part-time workers with a bachelor's or equivalent education are comparatively high across surveyed countries.
(309.9 %, rank 1/25
, 2024) Download Indicator
In South Africa, the share of 25-34 year-olds who attained a bachelor's or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the smallest among countries with available data.
(7.1 %, rank 38/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
Master's or equivalent level
South Africa has one of the lowest percentages of 25-64 year-olds whose highest education level is a master's or equivalent tertiary education degree.
(1.1 %, rank 37/37
, 2025) Download Indicator
South Africa has one of the smallest shares of 25-64 year-old men whose highest education level is a master's or equivalent tertiary education degree.
(1.1 %, rank 37/37
, 2025) Download Indicator
South Africa has one of the smallest shares of 25-64 year-old women whose highest education level is a master's or equivalent tertiary education degree.
(1.1 %, rank 37/37
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-64 year-olds with a master's or equivalent tertiary education degree is low compared to other OECD and partner countries.
(84.5 %, rank 36/37
, 2025) Download Indicator
In South Africa, the share of 25-34 year-olds who attained a master's or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the smallest among countries with available data.
(0.6 %, rank 37/37
, 2025) Download Indicator
Compared to other countries with available data, the employment rate of 25-34 year-olds with a master's or equivalent tertiary education degree is relatively low in South Africa.
(81 %, rank 34/36
, 2025) Download Indicator
Master's to doctorate
Earnings of 25-64 year-old full- and part-time workers with a master's, doctoral or equivalent education degree are comparatively high across surveyed countries.
(395.7 %, rank 1/25
, 2024) Download Indicator
Total tertiary
The level of tertiary attainment among 25-64 year-olds is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(8.5 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The level of tertiary attainment among 25-34 year-olds is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(8.6 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The level of tertiary attainment among 55-64 year-olds is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(7.6 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The proportion of 25-64 year-old men who have attained a general degree at the tertiary level is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(7.8 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The proportion of 25-64 year-old women who have attained a general degree at the tertiary level is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(9.1 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-64 year-olds with tertiary education is comparatively low across participating countries.
(77.6 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-64 year-old men with tertiary education is comparatively low across participating countries.
(81.8 %, rank 41/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-64 year-old women with tertiary education is comparatively low across participating countries.
(74.1 %, rank 37/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The unemployment rate among 25-34 year-olds with tertiary education is comparatively high across surveyed countries.
(15.7 %, rank 1/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The unemployment rate among 25-64 year-olds with tertiary education is comparatively high across surveyed countries.
(9.8 %, rank 1/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The proportional difference in earnings between 25-64 year-old adults with tertiary education and those with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is quite substantial.
(306 Index, rank 1/29
, 2024) Download Indicator
The proportion of 25-34 year-old men who have attained tertiary education is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(7.4 %, rank 41/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The proportion of 35-44 year-old men who have attained tertiary education is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(7.8 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The proportion of 45-54 year-old men who have attained tertiary education is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(8.5 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The proportion of 55-64 year-old men who have attained tertiary education is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(8 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The proportion of 25-34 year-old women who have attained tertiary education is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(10 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The proportion of 35-44 year-old women who have attained tertiary education is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(9.2 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The proportion of 45-54 year-old women who have attained tertiary education is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(9.1 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The proportion of 55-64 year-old women who have attained tertiary education is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(7.3 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (among 25-64 year-olds with tertiary education and income from employment) are one of the lowest among countries with available data.
(70 %, rank 28/29
, 2024) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-34 year-old men with tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(83.3 %, rank 37/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-34 year-olds with tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(76.7 %, rank 39/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-34 year-old women with tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(71.7 %, rank 37/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 55-64 year-old men with tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(54.8 %, rank 40/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 55-64 year-olds with tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(48 %, rank 40/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 55-64 year-old women with tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(41.9 %, rank 39/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The unemployment rate among 25-34 year-old men with tertiary education is relatively high in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(11.6 %, rank 1/38
, 2025) Download Indicator
The unemployment rate among 25-34 year-old women with tertiary education is relatively high in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(19 %, rank 1/38
, 2025) Download Indicator
The unemployment rate among 55-64 year-old women with tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(1 %, rank 32/35
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 45-54 year-olds with tertiary education is comparatively low.
(83.8 %, rank 38/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
In South Africa, the proportion of young women's earnings as a percentage of men's earnings (25-34 year-olds with tertiary education working full-time full-year), is relatively low compared to OECD and other members with available data.
(74.4 %, rank 28/29
, 2024) Download Indicator
The share of 25-29 year-olds neither in employment nor in education and training with tertiary education in South Africa is relatively high.
(35.6 %, rank 1/38
, 2025) Download Indicator
Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (45-54 year-olds with tertiary education working full-time full-year) are among the lowest across countries with available data.
(69.6 %, rank 25/29
, 2024) Download Indicator
In South Africa, government expenditure per full-time equivalent student on public tertiary educationial institutions is relatively smallest.
(5460 USD Equivalent, rank 37/41
, 2023) Download Indicator
All levels of education + not allocated by level
The share of inactive youth neither in formal education nor training among 18-24 year-olds in South Africa is one of the largest among countries with available data.
(26 %, rank 1/38
, 2025) Download Indicator
The share of unemployed youth neither in formal education nor training among 18-24 year-olds in South Africa is one of the largest among countries with available data.
(48 %, rank 1/38
, 2025) Download Indicator
The share of youth neither employed nor in education or training among 25-29 year-olds in South Africa is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(54.6 %, rank 1/38
, 2025) Download Indicator
The proportion of youth neither employed nor in education or training among 15-29 year-olds in South Africa is one of the largest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(41.6 %, rank 1/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The proportion of 18-24 year-olds who are neither employed nor in education or training is comparatively large in South Africa.
(48 %, rank 1/38
, 2025) Download Indicator
The percentage of 18-24 year-old men neither employed nor in education or training is one of the highest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data.
(45.9 %, rank 1/38
, 2025) Download Indicator
The percentage of 18-24 year-old women neither employed nor in education or training is one of the highest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data.
(50.2 %, rank 1/37
, 2025) Download Indicator
Attainment
The level of below upper secondary attainment among 25-34 year-olds is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(42.2 %, rank 1/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The level of below upper secondary attainment among 25-64 year-olds is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(48.7 %, rank 3/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The level of tertiary attainment among 25-64 year-olds is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(8.5 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The level of tertiary attainment among 25-34 year-olds is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(8.6 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The level of tertiary attainment among 55-64 year-olds is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(7.6 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
In South Africa, the percentage of 25-64 year-olds who attained a bachelor's or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the lowest among countries with available data.
(6.8 %, rank 36/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
South Africa has one of the lowest percentages of 25-64 year-olds whose highest education level is a master's or equivalent tertiary education degree.
(1.1 %, rank 37/37
, 2025) Download Indicator
The level of short-cycle tertiary attainment among 25-34 year-olds is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(0.9 %, rank 26/30
, 2025) Download Indicator
The level of short-cycle tertiary attainment among 55-64 year-olds is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(0.3 %, rank 31/35
, 2025) Download Indicator
In South Africa, the share of 25-34 year-olds who attained a bachelor's or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the smallest among countries with available data.
(7.1 %, rank 38/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
In South Africa, the share of 25-34 year-olds who attained a master's or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the smallest among countries with available data.
(0.6 %, rank 37/37
, 2025) Download Indicator
Attainment by gender
The proportion of 25-64 year-old men who have attained a general degree at the tertiary level is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(7.8 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The proportion of 25-64 year-old women who have attained a general degree at the tertiary level is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(9.1 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The proportion of 25-34 year-old men who have attained tertiary education is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(7.4 %, rank 41/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The proportion of 35-44 year-old men who have attained tertiary education is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(7.8 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The proportion of 45-54 year-old men who have attained tertiary education is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(8.5 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The proportion of 55-64 year-old men who have attained tertiary education is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(8 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The proportion of 25-34 year-old women who have attained tertiary education is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(10 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The proportion of 35-44 year-old women who have attained tertiary education is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(9.2 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The proportion of 45-54 year-old women who have attained tertiary education is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(9.1 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The proportion of 55-64 year-old women who have attained tertiary education is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(7.3 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
In South Africa, the share of 25-64 year-old men who attained a bachelor's or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the smallest among countries with available data.
(6 %, rank 35/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The share of 25-64 year-old women who attained a bachelor's or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the smallest among countries with available data.
(7.6 %, rank 38/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
South Africa has one of the smallest shares of 25-64 year-old men whose highest education level is a master's or equivalent tertiary education degree.
(1.1 %, rank 37/37
, 2025) Download Indicator
South Africa has one of the smallest shares of 25-64 year-old women whose highest education level is a master's or equivalent tertiary education degree.
(1.1 %, rank 37/37
, 2025) Download Indicator
The share of 25-34 year-old men who attained below upper secondary education in South Africa is one of the largest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(45.7 %, rank 1/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The share of 25-34 year-old women who attained below upper secondary education in South Africa is one of the largest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(38.5 %, rank 2/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
Participation in education
The percentage of three-year-olds in early childhood education in South Africa is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(0 %, rank 42/44
, 2024) Download Indicator
The percentage of four-year-olds in early childhood and primary education in South Africa is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(0 %, rank 42/43
, 2024) Download Indicator
The percentage of five-year-olds in early childhood education in South Africa is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(0 %, rank 41/44
, 2024) Download Indicator
Expenditure per student
In South Africa, government expenditure from initial source of funds on primary, secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary education per student is relatively low.
(3240 USD Equivalent, rank 41/42
, 2023) Download Indicator
In South Africa, government expenditure on public educational institutions per full-time equivalent student from primary to tertiary education is relatively low among OECD and partner countries.
(3414 USD Equivalent, rank 41/42
, 2023) Download Indicator
In South Africa, government expenditure per full-time equivalent student on public tertiary educationial institutions is relatively smallest.
(5460 USD Equivalent, rank 37/41
, 2023) Download Indicator
Employment and educational attainment
The employment rate among 25-64 year-olds with tertiary education is comparatively low across participating countries.
(77.6 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-64 year-olds without upper secondary education is comparatively low across participating countries.
(39.5 %, rank 39/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-64 year-olds with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is comparatively low across participating countries.
(56 %, rank 41/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-64 year-olds with a short-cycle tertiary education degree is low compared to other OECD and partner countries.
(64.2 %, rank 33/33
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-64 year-olds with a bachelor's or equivalent tertiary education degree is low compared to other OECD and partner countries.
(77.8 %, rank 38/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-64 year-olds with a master's or equivalent tertiary education degree is low compared to other OECD and partner countries.
(84.5 %, rank 36/37
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-34 year-olds with below upper secondary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(35 %, rank 38/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-34 year-olds with tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(76.7 %, rank 39/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-34 year-olds with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(47.4 %, rank 40/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 55-64 year-olds with below upper secondary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(28.3 %, rank 38/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 55-64 year-olds with tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(48 %, rank 40/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 55-64 year-olds with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(49.9 %, rank 38/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-34 year-olds with a short-cycle tertiary education is relatively low compared to other OECD and partner countries.
(54.9 %, rank 28/28
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 35-44 year-olds without upper secondary education is comparatively low.
(45.5 %, rank 38/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 45-54 year-olds without upper secondary education is comparatively low.
(46 %, rank 38/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 45-54 year-olds with tertiary education is comparatively low.
(83.8 %, rank 38/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 35-44 year-olds with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is comparatively low.
(62 %, rank 40/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 45-54 year-olds with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is comparatively low.
(66.4 %, rank 39/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 35-44 year-olds with a short-cycle tertiary education is comparatively low.
(76.8 %, rank 27/29
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 45-54 year-olds with a short-cycle tertiary education is comparatively low.
(73.9 %, rank 28/29
, 2025) Download Indicator
Compared to other countries with available data, the employment rate of 25-34 year-olds with a master's or equivalent tertiary education degree is relatively low in South Africa.
(81 %, rank 34/36
, 2025) Download Indicator
Employment by gender and educational attainment
The employment rate among 25-64 year-old men without upper secondary education is comparatively low across participating countries.
(46.9 %, rank 38/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-64 year-old men with upper secondary or a post-secondary non-tertiary education is comparatively low across participating countries.
(62.9 %, rank 41/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-64 year-old men with tertiary education is comparatively low across participating countries.
(81.8 %, rank 41/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-64 year-old women without upper secondary education is comparatively low across participating countries.
(31.7 %, rank 36/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-64 year-old women with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is comparatively low across participating countries.
(49.5 %, rank 40/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-64 year-old women with tertiary education is comparatively low across participating countries.
(74.1 %, rank 37/41
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-34 year-old men with below upper secondary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(42.2 %, rank 38/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-34 year-old men with tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(83.3 %, rank 37/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-34 year-old men with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(54.2 %, rank 40/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-34 year-old women with tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(71.7 %, rank 37/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-34 year-old women with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(41.1 %, rank 39/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 55-64 year-old men with below upper secondary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(34.6 %, rank 37/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 55-64 year-old men with tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(54.8 %, rank 40/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 55-64 year-old men with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(55.7 %, rank 39/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 55-64 year-old women with below upper secondary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(23.6 %, rank 37/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 55-64 year-old women with tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(41.9 %, rank 39/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
Unemployment and educational attainment
The unemployment rate among 25-34 year-olds with below upper secondary education is comparatively high across surveyed countries.
(46.7 %, rank 1/38
, 2025) Download Indicator
The unemployment rate among 25-34 year-olds with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is comparatively high across surveyed countries.
(38.5 %, rank 1/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The unemployment rate among 25-34 year-olds with tertiary education is comparatively high across surveyed countries.
(15.7 %, rank 1/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
The unemployment rate among 25-64 year-olds without upper secondary education is comparatively high across surveyed countries.
(35.8 %, rank 2/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The unemployment rate among 25-64 year-olds with tertiary education is comparatively high across surveyed countries.
(9.8 %, rank 1/40
, 2025) Download Indicator
Unemployment by gender and educational attainment
The unemployment rate among 25-34 year-old men with below upper secondary education is relatively high in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(41.8 %, rank 1/38
, 2025) Download Indicator
The unemployment rate among 25-34 year-old men with tertiary education is relatively high in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(11.6 %, rank 1/38
, 2025) Download Indicator
The unemployment rate among 25-34 year-old women with below upper secondary education is relatively high in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(54.2 %, rank 1/35
, 2025) Download Indicator
The unemployment rate among 25-34 year-old women with tertiary education is relatively high in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(19 %, rank 1/38
, 2025) Download Indicator
The unemployment rate among 55-64 year-old women with tertiary education is relatively low in South Africa compared to other participating countries.
(1 %, rank 32/35
, 2025) Download Indicator
Earnings and educational attainment
The proportional difference in earnings between 25-64 year-old adults with tertiary education and those with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is quite substantial.
(306 Index, rank 1/29
, 2024) Download Indicator
Earnings of 25-64 year-old full- and part-time workers with a short cycle tertiary education degree are comparatively high across surveyed countries.
(153 %, rank 1/24
, 2024) Download Indicator
Earnings of 25-64 year-old full- and part-time workers with a bachelor's or equivalent education are comparatively high across surveyed countries.
(309.9 %, rank 1/25
, 2024) Download Indicator
Earnings of 25-64 year-old full- and part-time workers with a master's, doctoral or equivalent education degree are comparatively high across surveyed countries.
(395.7 %, rank 1/25
, 2024) Download Indicator
Compared to other countries with available data, earnings of 25-64 year-olds full- and part-time with below secondary education compared to those of adults with an upper secondary education are relatively low in South Africa.
(49.2 %, rank 30/30
, 2024) Download Indicator
Compared to other countries with available data, earnings of 25-64 year-olds with below secondary education compared to those of adults with an upper secondary education are relatively low in South Africa.
(53.4 %, rank 29/29
, 2024) Download Indicator
In South Africa, the relative earnings for 45-54 year-old workers with below upper secondary attainment are low compared to workers with upper secondary attainment.
(52 Index, rank 29/29
, 2024) Download Indicator
Earnings, gender and educational attainment
The earnings of men without an upper secondary education are relatively low compared to those of men with an upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education.
(52 Index, rank 29/29
, 2024) Download Indicator
The earnings of women without an upper secondary education are relatively low compared to those of women with an upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education.
(52 Index, rank 29/29
, 2024) Download Indicator
Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (among 25-64 year-olds without an upper secondary education with income from employment) are one of the lowest among countries with available data.
(68.5 %, rank 27/29
, 2024) Download Indicator
Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (among 25-64 year-olds with tertiary education and income from employment) are one of the lowest among countries with available data.
(70 %, rank 28/29
, 2024) Download Indicator
In South Africa, the proportion of young women's earnings as a percentage of men's earnings (25-34 year-olds with tertiary education working full-time full-year), is relatively low compared to OECD and other members with available data.
(74.4 %, rank 28/29
, 2024) Download Indicator
The earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (25-34 year-olds without an upper secondary education working full-time full-year) are among the lowest across countries with available data.
(74.9 %, rank 23/25
, 2024) Download Indicator
Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (45-54 year-olds without an upper secondary education working full-time full-year) are among the lowest across countries with available data.
(64.4 %, rank 26/26
, 2024) Download Indicator
Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (45-54 year-olds with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education working full-time full-year) are among the lowest across countries with available data.
(70.8 %, rank 26/29
, 2024) Download Indicator
Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (45-54 year-olds with tertiary education working full-time full-year) are among the lowest across countries with available data.
(69.6 %, rank 25/29
, 2024) Download Indicator
Neither in education nor employed
The share of inactive youth neither in formal education nor training among 18-24 year-olds in South Africa is one of the largest among countries with available data.
(26 %, rank 1/38
, 2025) Download Indicator
The share of unemployed youth neither in formal education nor training among 18-24 year-olds in South Africa is one of the largest among countries with available data.
(48 %, rank 1/38
, 2025) Download Indicator
The share of 25-29 year-olds neither in employment nor in education and training with tertiary education in South Africa is relatively high.
(35.6 %, rank 1/38
, 2025) Download Indicator
The share of youth neither employed nor in education or training among 25-29 year-olds in South Africa is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(54.6 %, rank 1/38
, 2025) Download Indicator
The proportion of youth neither employed nor in education or training among 15-29 year-olds in South Africa is one of the largest among OECD and partner countries with available data.
(41.6 %, rank 1/39
, 2025) Download Indicator
The proportion of 18-24 year-olds who are neither employed nor in education or training is comparatively large in South Africa.
(48 %, rank 1/38
, 2025) Download Indicator
The percentage of 18-24 year-old men neither employed nor in education or training is one of the highest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data.
(45.9 %, rank 1/38
, 2025) Download Indicator
The percentage of 18-24 year-old women neither employed nor in education or training is one of the highest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data.
(50.2 %, rank 1/37
, 2025) Download Indicator
The data table will display up to six selected countries.
General findings
Education outcomes
Access & participation
Finance
Teachers & learning environment
Teacher shortages
Educational attainment remains at an all-time high in 2025 as more people obtain advanced qualifications. Across the OECD, 43% of working-age adults have a tertiary qualification, while the share of adults with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary attainment is slightly lower at 39%.
On a similar note, the share of young adults without upper secondary attainment continues to decline across the OECD, standing at 12% in 2025. Therefore, while more young adults obtain a tertiary qualification, the share of individuals whose highest qualification is upper secondary with a vocational orientation is decreasing in almost all OECD countries.
Regarding the share of young people being neither in employment nor in education or training, it stood at 14% as of 2025 across OECD countries. However, cross-country comparisons reveal a wide variety of trends, ranging from large falls in Croatia or Ireland to increases in Germany or Latvia.
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Most children aged 3 to 5 are enrolled in early childhood education, with an average participation rate of 86% across the OECD in 2024. Participation in early childhood education increases with age and tends to be higher in countries with stronger institutional support for participation.
76.2% of students complete upper secondary programmes within the theoretical programme duration. This rises to 84.9% with two additional years on average across the OECD.
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In 2023, OECD countries allocated an average of 9.8% of total government expenditure to education, equivalent to 4.2% of GDP.
Total expenditure on education tends to rise with the level of education. In primary education, expenditure per student was USD 13 552 in 2023 on average across the OECD. This amount rises to USD 14 923 in secondary education and to USD 22 402 in tertiary education.
Tertiary education continues to expand, placing pressure on public budgets. Private sources represent a larger share of total funding at the tertiary level than at any other level of education. However, as a whole most investment in education comes from public sources. On average, across the OECD, government expenditure on primary to tertiary education corresponded to 4% of GDP in 2023, while private expenditure corresponded to 0.6%. Both of these figures are measured as initial source of funds, which implies that we are tracking the original provider.
Research and development represents around one-third of total expenditure across the OECD on tertiary educational institutions, underlining their dual role in both teaching and research. On average across the OECD, in 2023, USD 8 060 were invested annually into research and development for every student enrolled in tertiary education.
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Compulsory teaching time averages 770 hours per year for primary students and 710 hours for lower secondary students (general programmes), a difference of about 60 hours annually.
The ratio of children to teachers in primary education has slightly fallen across most OECD countries, decreasing from an average of 15 children per teacher in 2015 to 14 in 2024.
Teachers’ statutory salaries increase with the level of education taught. On average, across OECD countries and economies, the salaries of teachers with the most prevalent qualifications with 15 years of experience range from USD 60 437 at pre-primary level to USD 68 928 at upper secondary level.
Teachers’ actual salaries at primary and general secondary levels of education are 87-95% of the average earnings of tertiary-educated workers across OECD countries. School heads' actual salaries are usually higher than those of tertiary-educated workers.
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On average across OECD countries, 9.1% of teachers in primary and secondary education are non-fully qualified, with shares exceeding 18% in Chile, Denmark, Estonia and Germany.
Furthermore, the share of fully qualified teachers leaving the profession in primary and secondary schools stands at 6.4% of the total teaching workforce.
The ratio of children to teachers in primary education has slightly fallen across most OECD countries, decreasing from an average of 15 children per teacher in 2015 to 14 in 2024.
Regarding job satisfaction among teachers, participating countries show wide differences. Japan, Spain and Czechia reported that teachers tend to be much more satisfied with their jobs than other employed adults. On the other hand, teachers in Hungary, Chile or Latvia tend to be less satisfied with their jobs than other employed adults.
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Note: These values should be interpreted with care since they are influenced by countries' specific contexts and trade-offs. In education, there is often no simple
most- or least-efficient model. For instance, the share of private expenditure in education must be read against other measures designed to mitigate inequities,
such as loans and grants; longer learning time is an opportunity to convey more and better content to students, but may hinder investments in other important
areas. If you want further information on the nature of different variables, please take the time to read the analysis and contextual information, available at the website
for each publication.
All rankings for individual variables are compiled on the basis of OECD and G20 countries for which data are available. The OECD average includes only OECD countries which are listed here: https://www.oecd.org/en/about/members-partners.html
Reference years displayed in the Education GPS correspond to the most common year of reference among countries for which data is available on each variable. Data for the latest available year is preferred and some
countries may have provided data refering to a more recent or late year.
However, OECD averages from Education at a Glance coming from the OECD database are the averages for the indicator reference year appearing in the Education GPS and may differ from averages in the book where averages can include data from multiple reference years, based on countries' data availability.
To know more about possible exceptions on data please click on the "Download Indicator" link on each variable. When a year of reference corresponds to a school year encompassing two years, the reference reads as follows: 2026 for school year 2025/2026 in the Northern Hemisphere.
*TALIS averages are based on all countries participating in the TALIS survey, including partner countries and economies.
This explains the difference between the OECD average and the TALIS averages.
Data from the TALIS survey and Education at a Glance (EAG) may differ. See Annex E of the TALIS technical report and
Sources Methodologies and Technical Notes
of EAG 2025 for more details about the data collections.
For additional notes, please refer to annexes in the list of links below the introductory country profile text.